De Niro, Biden Targeted with Suspicious Packages in String of Attempted Bombings

Monica Sanchez | October 24, 2018
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UPDATE OCT. 25 1:57 P.M. ET: 

The latest public figures to have been mailed suspicious packages are actor Robert De Niro and former Vice President Joe Biden. 

The Hill reports, 

Authorities at approximately 4 a.m. on Thursday morning intercepted a suspicious package sent to actor Robert De Niro. Police were responding to a call from an employee who reached out after seeing news reports about the other pipe bombs. He said he had seen a suspicious package a day or two earlier. 

The package was found at 375 Greenwich St. in Manhattan, a building that holds the offices of De Niro's Tribeca Film Center and restaurant Tribeca Grill.  

...

Authorities on Thursday morning intercepted two suspicious packages addressed to former Vice President Joe Biden. One was discovered at a postal facility in New Castle, Del., while the other was found at a postal facility in Wilmington, Del., authorities said. 

UPDATE 3:54 P.M. ET: 

President Trump at the White House on Wednesday responded to the handful of suspicious packages sent to political figures. 

He called for unification "in these times" and said that "acts of political violence of any kind have no place in the United States of America."

Trump said that "a major federal investigation is now underway," involving the FBI, the Department of Justice, the Department of Homeland Security, and the U.S. Secret Service.

"The full weight of our government is being deployed to conduct this investigation and bring those responsible for these despicable acts to justice. We will spare no resource or expense in this effort," said the president.

UPDATE 2:40 P.M. ET: 

Authorities say the packages were all constructed similarly.

CNN says they have been described to the news network by law enforcement officials as "rudimentary but functional." 

Tapper tweeted Wednesday that "the intent here was mass murder."

The investigation is still underway as more packages have been discovered, the latest being one addressed to the D.C. office of Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Calif.).

UPDATE 2:29 P.M. ET: 

Authorities are now investigating a suspicious package addressed to Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Calif.).

Fox News reports, "In the latest incident, a law enforcement source told Fox News that U.S. Capitol Police are investigating a suspicious package addressed to Democratic California Rep. Maxine Waters. The package is at the Capitol Hill screening facility in Maryland."

The packages outside of the San Diego Union-Tribune were deemed "abandoned property" after the building was evacuated, including the office of Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.)," reports Fox News.

UPDATE 1:45 P.M. ET: 

Another suspicious package has been found addressed to former U.S. attorney general Eric Holder. 

It was reportedly mailed to Holder but sent to the wrong address. The package was then sent to the Florida office of former chairwoman for the Democratic National Committee, Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, because that address was on the return label.  

"Her office was evacuated on Wednesday when a suspicious package was found," reports The Washington Examiner.

It is also reported that the San Diego Union-Tribune evacuated its building after "a stack of suspicious looking packages" was spotted outside.

Original Story: 

An investigation is underway after Secret Service intercepted suspicious packages with explosives mailed to former President Obama and former secretary of state Hillary Clinton.

One package was discovered at the Clinton residence in Chappaqua, N.Y. The other was discovered 

There were also evacuations at Time Warner Center, CNN’s New York headquarters, after reports of a suspicious package found in the building.

The NYPD held a press conference Wednesday afternoon indicating that the package found in the CNN mailroom “appeared to be a live explosive device” and that it was secured and removed for investigation by the NYPD’s bomb squad.

The NYPD also said that there was an “envelope with white powder” also discovered with the package.

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) said that a device was sent to his office in Manhattan.

Authorities believe there are more devices.

The Trump administration has condemned the attempted bombings.

“We condemn the attempted violent attacks recently made against President Obama, President Clinton, Secretary Clinton, and other public figures,” said White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders.

Vice President Mike Pence said that "those responsible will be brought to justice" in a tweet. 

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"There is no excuse--America is better than this," Ivanka Trump tweeted.

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The media was quick to pin the bomb threats on President Trump, the GOP, and Fox News, accusing them of creating a toxic political climate.

Hillary Clinton at a fundraiser in Florida was asked to respond to the package addressed to her. She replied, “It is a troubling time, isn’t it?”   

The FBI and the Secret Service are investigating the incidents. 

It is unclear if one or multiple people addressed the packages, or whether they are related to the explosive device sent to the Bedford, N.Y. home of liberal billionaire donor George Soros on Monday. 

This story is developing. Stay tuned to MRCTV for updates.

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