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By the Associated Press
Bombs bombs filled with shards of glass were intercepted en route to several renowned Democrats, including former President Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton, during a worrying wave that worsened tensions and political fears two weeks ago. before the mid-term national elections.
On Thursday, a team of anti-bomb police in New York City found a suspicious package addressed to actor Robert DeNiro, who had criticized President Donald Trump. The investigators told The Associated Press that it would contain a similar device, an X-ray, to those sent to the Democratic personalities and CNN.
A police officer blocks an area in response to reports of a suspicious package in the Tribeca neighborhood of New York on Thursday, October 25, 2018. (AP Photo / Ron DePasquale / MANILA BULLETIN)
None of the seven bombs exploded and no one was injured when seizure of suspicious packages by authorities in New York, Washington DC, Florida and California.
Some of the people most often criticized by Trump are the targets of the bombs. Clinton is still besieged by the protesters as her supporters chanted "Let's lock her up" two years after her defeat. Trump also often chooses the CNN cable news network and other media whose reports he does not like, calling them "false news."
On Thursday, without referring directly to explosive devices, Trump again blamed the media for the "anger" of the company.
"A very big part of the anger we see today in our society is caused by the deliberately false and inaccurate reporting of mainstream media that I call false news," he said in a tweet from morning. "It's become so heinous and hateful that it's beyond description. Mainstream Media has to put order in its business, FAST! "
A few hours earlier, he took a softer tone at a rally in Wisconsin on Wednesday night.
"Let's go," he said. "By the way, do you see how well I behave tonight? Have you ever seen this? "
The attacks surpassed other news in an already tense political season that could reshape Congress and serve as a referendum on the first two years of Trump's presidency. The actions, which provoked panicked evacuations of property and reports of additional explosions that were subsequently unfounded, can only reinforce fears that overheated rhetoric could lead to violence. murderous to the extent that the parties are fighting a fierce battle against immigration, the Supreme Court and the treatment of women. .
The bombs, each with a small battery, were about six inches long and were filled with gunpowder and broken glass, said a law enforcement official who viewed X-ray images and spoke under conditionality. Anonymity to discuss an ongoing investigation.
The official said the devices were made from PVC pipes and covered with black tape.
The first crude bomb to be discovered was delivered on Monday to the outer suburbs of New York George Soros, billionaire liberal and major contributor to democratic causes.
The FBI said an additional package was intended for former Attorney General Eric Holder, but that he was found in an office of Democratic Rep. In Florida, Debbie Wasserman Schultz, whose the return address was indicated.
Later on Wednesday, the FBI announced that two other parcels addressed to Rep. Maxine Waters had been intercepted and had a similar appearance to five others.
The White House condemned the attacks on Democrats and other supposed enemies of the administration.
"Acts or threats of political violence have no place in the United States," Trump said. "This blatant conduct is odious."
Other Republican leaders have said the same thing. But Democratic House and House leaders Chuck Schumer of New York and Nancy Pelosi of California have said such words "sound hollow" when they come from Trump. They noted the recent praise of the president of a GOP congressman who brutalized a journalist, among other Trump statements.
Law enforcement officials said all parcels were similar: six-stamped bubble manila envelopes and return address from Florida representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz. She is the former president of the Democratic National Committee who was accused by Clinton's rivals of secretly helping the party's presidential candidate.
The package intended for the holder had an incorrect address and was sent to Wasserman Schultz.
Police officers from New York City arrive at the Time Warner Center in New York on Wednesday, October 24, 2018. (AP Photo / Richard Drew)
The devices were all sent to an FBI laboratory in Virginia for study. The officials did not provide any details about a suspect or possible motive.
"Suffice it to say, it appears that one or more individuals have sent several similar packages," said John Miller, chief of intelligence and counterterrorism of the New York Police Department. .
The US secret service intercepted the bomb addressed to Hillary Clinton at the home of Chappaqua, New York, which she shares with former President Bill Clinton, and another who was sent to Obama at his home in New York. Washington.
A police squad abducted another person from CNN's New York office who was evacuated. The CNN package was aimed at former CIA director John Brennan, who publicly opposed Trump and regularly contributes to television.
Speaking at an event in Austin, Texas, Brennan called the wave of bomb pipes "very unfortunate turns," especially if he and other people are targeted by their public comments.
"Unfortunately, I think that Donald Trump has too often helped to arouse some of these feelings of anger, even violence, when he pointed to acts of violence or when he also talked about turning against someone." one of the press, the media, "said Brennan. .
The package sent to CNN contained an active explosive, cables, a black pipe and an envelope covered with white powder, officials said. The powder has been tested and found to be harmless, according to a law enforcement official who requested anonymity to discuss an ongoing investigation.
New York City Police Commissioner James O'Neill said investigators were watching a security video to determine if they could identify a courier service that would have delivered the pipeline package to CNN's office. . In an appearance on CNN, O'Neill said he was "pretty sure that these images will be filmed, and we'll know where this person comes from before entering the building and where she went after. "
Waters, whom the president denigrated as a "weak IQ person," said Wednesday afternoon that she was the target of a suspicious package. Although the FBI did not initially include him on a list of targeted individuals, the office then announced that two packages had been sent to him and similar to the other five. One of them was intercepted in a Los Angeles mail center.
The White House press secretary, Sarah Sanders, said in a statement: "These acts of terror are heinous, and all those responsible will be held responsible to the fullest extent permitted by law."
Jeff Zucker, president of CNN Worldwide, however, claimed that "Trump's rhetoric" inspired the attacks, claiming that there was a complete lack of understanding at the White House as to the severity of their ongoing attacks against the media. "
"The president, and especially the White House press officer, should understand that their words matter. Until now, they have shown no understanding of this, "he said.
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