Hunt for MAGABomber

> Critics accuse Trump of encouraging violence

NEW YORK: US authorities pressed ahead yesterday with an all-out probe into who was behind pipe bombs sent to Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, other top Democrats, and CNN, all of them hate figures for supporters of Donald Trump.

Trump’s critics accused him of encouraging violence just days before America votes in Nov 6 midterm polls.

The American president reacted to the rapid fire spate of bomb alerts by first calling for unity, saying “acts of political violence” have “no place in the US”.

But he later told a rally in Wisconsin “the media also has a responsibility to set a civil tone and stop the endless hostility”.

CNN is known for its often critical coverage of the Trump administration and has constantly provoked the ire of the president, who succeeded Obama and defeated Clinton in 2016.

The spree began on Monday with a device at the New York home of billionaire liberal donor George Soros.

“So far the devices have been what appear to be pipe bombs,” FBI agent Bryan Paarmann said.

“Whether it’s one person or a network, not really sure at this point,” New York police chief James O’Neill told CNN, saying he expected those responsible to be identified and arrested soon.

At least seven suspicious packages were sent in New York, Washington and Florida, including to prominent African American Democrats, Obama’s attorneygeneral Eric Holder and Maxine Waters, a California lawmaker.

Late on Wednesday, police in Los Angeles said another suspicious package had been found at a mail facility, also addressed to Waters.

Bomb disposal experts rendered it safe, authorities said.

The packages were sent in envelopes with bubble wrap, marked with computerprinted address labels.

Each listed former Democratic National Committee chairman Debbie Wasserman Schultz as the sender.

The return address included misspellings of her last name, the Miami Herald and other news outlets reported.

#MAGABomber trended on Twitter with accusations that Trump had incited the attempted attacks and highlighting the toxic remarks he has levelled against the targets in the past.

Liberal and left-wing critics accuse his rhetoric-laden “Make America Great Again” presidency of emboldening rightwing extremists.

Trump has endorsed the bodyslamming of a reporter and denounces critical press. – AFP