A suspicious package potentially containing an explosive device was found near the home of former United States President Bill Clinton and his wife, former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, on Wednesday, reported CNBC. A similar explosive device was also sent to the home of former President Barack Obama.
The first package, addressed to Hillary Clinton, was discovered late on October 23 near the Clintons’ home in Chappaqua, New York, said a statement from the US Secret Service. A second package addressed to Obama’s home in Washington, DC, was intercepted early on October 24 morning, said the statement.
“The packages were immediately identified during routine mail screening procedures as potential explosive devices and were appropriately handled as such,” the Secret Service said. “The protectees did not receive the packages nor were they at risk of receiving them.”
A suspicious package was also found at the Time Warner Center in Manhattan, where news network CNN is based. The New York Police Department responded to the alert and CNN evacuated its bureau as a precaution, it said on Twitter. The package was discovered in the mail room. The New York City police commissioner said the package sent to CNN contained a live explosive and envelope with white powder, AP reported.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation confirmed that a suspicious package was also sent to US Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz’s office in Sunrise in Florida. New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said his Manhattan office also received a suspicious device.
The White House condemned the attempted attacks on Obama and the Clintons, AP reported. “These terrorising acts are despicable, and anyone responsible will be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law,” said White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders. “The United States Secret Service and other law enforcement agencies are investigating and will take all appropriate actions to protect anyone threatened by these cowards.”
The incident comes two days after a similar package, containing an explosive device, was discovered at the home of billionaire businessman George Soros, the BBC reported. An employee of Soros discovered the package and took it to a wooded area nearby, where it was destroyed by bomb squad officers. The FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force is investigating the incident at Soros’ house.
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