US bomb threats: At least six suspicious packages sent to Obamas, Clintons and news media organisations across America
Donald Trump has called the several packages containing explosive devices or suspected of containing them, acts of "domestic terrorism".
Mr Trump, addressing the situation at the White House, said it was "egregious" and said the American people need "to unify, we have to come together".
Suspected explosive devices have been sent to both Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama, and packages suspected of containing such devices were sent to former US Attorney General Eric Holder, former CIA Director John Brennan, and US House Democrat Maxine Waters. The series of incidents come just two days after a bomb was sent to the home of billionaire George Soros.
The packages to the Clintons, Obamas, and Ms Waters were intercepted before reaching any of them.
Another package containing a “live” explosive device and “white powder” was sent to the mailroom of CNN at their offices in the Time Warner Building in Manhattan, just a few steps away from a Trump International Hotel.
House Democrat and former chair of the Democratic National Committee (DNC) Debbie Wasserman Schultz of Florida was listed as the sender/return address on the packages to the Clintons, Obamas, and Mr Brennan.
Her name, as well as Mr Brennan’s, was misspelled on the CNN package. Mr Brennan does not work for the network, but frequently appears on MSNBC.
An additional package was also sent to the Manhattan office of Democratic New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, but it was deemed as “safe” by the New York Police Department and contained a USB drive of “literature”.
Yet another package was labelled as “suspicious” in the building housing a district office of Democratic Senator Kamala Harris and the San Diego Union Tribune newspaper in San Diego, California. It was also deemed safe by police and was not addressed to the senator.
We have breaking news from the east coast of the US this morning. The Secret Service has found what they suspect is a bomb at the Chappaqua, New York, home of Bill and Hillary Clinton.
Another device was intercepted by the law enforcement agency before it arrived at Barack and Michelle Obama's home in northwest Washington, DC.
These are the second and third suspected explosive packages found in recent days, just two weeks away from the 2018 midterm elections on 6 November.
On Tuesday, authorities found a package with explosive powder at the home of billionaire philanthropist and frequent target of Republicans George Soros.
Mr Soros also lives in Westchester County, just north of New York City, where the Clintons reside.
White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders issued a statement on the suspected bombs: “We condemn the attempted violent attacks recently made against President Obama, President Clinton, Secretary Clinton, and other public figures. These terrorizing acts are despicable, and anyone responsible will be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law. 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.”
Lucky for the Obamas and Clintons neither was in danger of personally receiving the packages. As part of their post-White House life they receive round-the-clock Secret Service protection, which includes screening of incoming mail.
The agency said in a statement: “The packages were immediately identified during routine mail screening procedures as potential explosive devices and were appropriately handled as such. The protectees did not receive the packages nor were they at risk of receiving them.”
It is unclear if this is linked in any way however CNN has just said they are evacuating their offices on the west side of Manhattan after a "suspicious package" was sent to the building.
The New York Police Department is investigating the matter.
The network has been a frequent target of verbal attacks from Donald Trump in the past.
Anchors in the New York newsroom could be seen evacuating in the middle of their broadcast, with coverage being taken over from the Washington, DC, bureau.
A fifth suspicious package with a possible explosive device has been found, this one was headed to the White House.
It was intercepted at Joint Base Bolling in Washington, DC. Police are reporting the advice is similar to those sent to the Obamas, Clintons, and Mr Soros.
The FBI has also issued a statement and said the package headed for the Clintons' New York home is being investigated by the Joint Terrorism Task Force in coordination with local, state, and other federal authorities.
Police and other law enforcement agencies are keeping a watchful eye on the Obamas home in Washington, DC, after the suspicious package with a possible explosive device was intercepted on its way to the former President and First Lady.
A US official has told The Associated Press investigators believe the explosive that was discovered near the Clintons' home in Chappaqua, New York, is linked to one found Monday at the compound of billionaire George Soros.
Both homes are in Westchester, New York, just north of New York City.
The official was not authorised to publicly discuss the ongoing investigations and spoke on condition of anonymity.
The official said one of the packages had the return address of US House Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz, who is the former chairwoman of the Democratic National Committee.
Hillary Clinton was attending campaign events for Democrats in Florida on Tuesday and Wednesday and was not at the family's New York residence at the time the package was intercepted at a Westchester County facility, however Mr Clinton was present in the family's home.
CNN has said an NYPD source told them the device, found in the mailroom of the Time Warner Center, was "constructed with a pipe and wires...Law enforcement authorities are treating the device as a real explosive".
The device was discovered in the mailroom of Time Warner Center.
Despite early reports, of a suspicious package sent to the White House - the Secret Service is only confirming the packages sent to Mr Obama and Ms Clinton.
