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Suspicious packages sent to Time Warner Center, Clinton and Obama
By Eric Levenson, Sophie Tatum, Meg Wagner, Brian Ries and Paul P. Murphy, CNN
Updated less than 1 min ago12:41 p.m. ET, October 24, 2018
Catch up quick: Here's who has received suspicious packages
From Eric Levenson:
Suspicious packages were sent to several prominent political figures in the past few days.
- George Soros: A suspicious package targeting the billionaire investor and philanthropist on Monday was rendered safe in Bedford, New York, a law enforcement source told CNN.
- Hillary Clinton: The Secret Service intercepted a package addressed to the home of the 2016 Democratic presidential nominee in Westchester County, New York late Tuesday night.
- Barack Obama: The Secret Service intercepted a suspicious package addressed to the former president early Wednesday morning at his home in Washington, D.C.
- John Brennan: A package with an explosive device sent to CNN’s New York offices today was addressed to former CIA Director John Brennan, according to city and local law enforcement officials.
- Debbie Wasserman Schultz: The Florida Democrat's office was evacuated after a suspicious package was found mailed there this morning, according to a police spokesman.
A US intelligence official tells CNN it is too early to tell whether there is a nexus to terrorism at this point regarding the suspicious packages sent to multiple locations.
ATF on scene in New York, DC and Florida
From CNN's David Shortell
Officials with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosive are on scene Wednesday at the site of the multiple suspicious packages.
They responding to packages mailed to officials in DC, and are at the Time Warner Center in New York and the office of Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz in Sunrise, Florida, ATF spokesperson April Langwell said.
They were also in New York at George Soros’ home Tuesday, she said.
White House issues a statement on the "attempted violent attacks"
White House press secretary Sarah Sanders tweeted a statement one the serious of suspicious packages sent to various political figures.
"These terrorizing acts are despicable, and anyone responsible will be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law," Sanders' statement said.
Read the full statement below:
Intelligence community monitoring situation with packages, official says
From CNN's Zachary Cohen
A US intelligence official tells CNN it is too early to tell whether there is a nexus to terrorism at this point regarding the suspicious packages sent to multiple locations today.
The official says the intelligence community is monitoring the situation regarding the suspicious packages, saying it is still very early in the process.
Intelligence agencies could become involved later on but at this point law enforcement is still assessing the facts on the ground, the official tells CNN.
San Diego Union-Tribune office, Kamala Harris office evacuated
San Diego Police are currently investigating a suspicious package and have closed off a section of 6th Avenue where the San Diego Union-Tribune is located, according to Officer Billy Hernandez.
The building that was evacuated houses the San Diego Union-Tribune, Senator Kamala Harris' field office, and other offices this morning.
It is not clear where the packages were to be delivered. One U-T staffer also noted that a bicycle pump looking device was near the boxes.
Emergency alert confirms "suspicious device" removed from Time Warner Center
People in the area of the Time Warner Center building just received an emergency alert notifying them the device was removed by NYPD bomb squad, confirming what we heard earlier from a law enforcement source.
See it:
Suspicious package removed from CNN New York office
From CNN's Shimon Prokupecz
A law enforcement official tells CNN that the suspicious package has been removed from CNN’s New York offices.
It is being sent to a New York Police Department facility in the Bronx.
See the moment:
The suspicious device sent to CNN’s New York offices this morning was just taken away from the Time Warner Center and is being sent to an NYPD facility in the Bronx, according to a law enforcement official cnn.it/2Jg4qiy
McConnell: "I stand with all Americans in condemning today’s attempted acts of domestic terrorism"
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell issued a statement on the suspicious packages, saying that he stands "with all Americans in condemning today’s attempted acts of domestic terrorism."
Here's the Kentucky Republican's full statement:
“I stand with all Americans in condemning today’s attempted acts of domestic terrorism. As we continue to learn more, Americans are united in gratitude for the first responders — the Secret Service, the Postal Service, and other law enforcement — who protect our leaders and public figures from such unconscionable acts.”
CBS News offers CNN help as network continues reporting during evacuation
From CNN's Brian Stelter
When CNN's New York offices were evacuated, the network had to scramble to keep its 10 a.m. newscast on the air. Correspondent Rene Marsh initially anchored from Washington. She handed off to Wolf Blitzer a short time later.
The New York based anchors who were evacuated, Poppy Harlow and Jim Sciutto, continued to report from a nearby street corner.
The 10 a.m. newscast is usually produced from a control room at CNN Center in Atlanta, so the coverage was seamless on television.
One of CNN's rivals, CBS News, reached out to offer assistance. CBS is located a few blocks away from CNN on the west side of Manhattan.
CNN Worldwide President Jeff Zucker thanked CBS News and news division president David Rhodes "for graciously offering their assistance while we deal with this."
"Really nice to see from our fellow journalists," Zucker wrote in an internal memo.
Police increase patrols at media locations in New York City
From CNN's Sonia Moghe
As a precaution, the NYPD Intelligence, Counterterrorism and Bomb Squad teams are increasing patrols at media locations in New York City and other potential areas.
A briefing near the Time Warner Center in New York City will be held at 12:45 p.m. ET, an New York Police official tells CNN.
At least one package had Debbie Wasserman Schultz as return address
From CNN's David Shortell and Evan Perez
A law enforcement source and a federal source briefed on the investigation into the George Soros package said it had the return address of prominent Democratic member of Congress Debbie Wasserman Schultz.
There is no information that the package was sent by Wasserman Schultz.
CNN earlier reported that the Sunrise, Florida, office of Wasserman Schultz has been evacuated after a suspicious package was found mailed there this morning, according to Officer Chris Piper, a spokesman for the police department.
Ivanka Trump condemns attempted acts of violence
Ivanka Trump, the daughter of President Donald Trump and a senior White House adviser, strongly condemned the attempted acts of violence in a tweet.
I strongly condemn the attempted acts of violence against President Obama, the Clinton family, @CNN & others. There is no excuse—America is better than this.
Gratitude to the @SecretService and law enforcement for all they do to keep this nation safe.
SOON: New York police and officials hold a briefing
From CNN's Elizabeth Joseph and Kate Bolduan
There will be a briefing near the Time Warner Center in New York City at 12:45 p.m. ET, an New York Police official tells CNN.
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo and New York City Police Commissioner James O’Neill will be at the briefing, according to Mayor de Blasio’s press secretary Eric Phillips.
NYPD seen outside Time Warner building with blast suit and containment truck
NYPD bomb squad officers were seen outside the Time Warner Center a few moments ago, with one wearing a blast suit and another driving a truck with a bomb containment chamber on its back into the building.
Orrin Hatch weighs in on the suspicious packages
From CNN's Liz Landers, Clare Foran and Kristin Wilson
Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, was just asked about the suspicious packages, and what that says about the current political climate.
"We’ve got to make sure that the good people on both sides really run the country," he said.
Here's his full comment:
“Well, it’s been around through a number of presidencies. I’ve been here a long time and I’ve seen it happen before, but the American people generally — when you consider we have so many millions of people in this land — you’re going to have some people that are just out of whack. And we’ve got to make sure that the good people on both sides really run the country,” he said.
President Trump has been briefed
From CNN's Sarah Westwood
President Trump has been briefed and is getting "constant updates" about the suspicious package situation, White House press secretary Sarah Sanders tells CNN.
Debbie Wasserman Schultz's Florida office evacuated after suspicious package
From CNN's David Shortell
The Sunrise, Florida, office of Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz has been evacuated after a suspicious package was found mailed there this morning, according to Officer Chris Piper, a spokesman for the police department.
The area is secured and the bomb squad is on site, Piper said.
It’s not clear if the package contains a device similar to others detected around the country Wednesday.
House Speaker Paul Ryan: "We cannot tolerate any attempt to terrorize public figures"
House Speaker Paul Ryan thanked law enforcement and condemned the actions that "attempt to terrorize public figures," in a tweet.
"Those behind such reprehensible acts must be brought to justice," the Wisconsin Republican wrote. "We cannot tolerate any attempt to terrorize public figures."
Those behind such reprehensible acts must be brought to justice. We cannot tolerate any attempt to terrorize public figures. I am grateful to the @SecretService, Capitol Police, and all law enforcement who guard against these threats.
JUST IN: Package sent to CNN in New York was addressed to former CIA Director John Brennan
From Brynn Gingras, Mary Anne Fox, and David Shortell:
The package with an explosive device sent to CNN’s New York offices today was addressed to former CIA Director John Brennan, according to city and local law enforcement officials.
Brennan, an official in the Obama administration, is a frequent CNN guest and Trump critic whose security clearance was revoked by the President this summer.
The device found in the 10 Columbus Circle mailroom is similar to the ones addressed to Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, and George Soros, a law enforcement source says.
Another law enforcement official tells CNN's Evan Perez that the initial examination of all of the devices shows them to be constructed similarly. At least one of the devices appeared to contain projectiles, including shards of glass. The devices are rudimentary but functional.
A representative for John Brennan says he is not commenting on the suspicious package that CNN reports was addressed to him.
Chelsea Clinton thanks the Secret Service
Chelsea Clinton thanks the US Secret Service in a tweet after a suspicious package was addressed to the home of her parents, and addressed to Hillary Clinton.
1 hr 12 min ago
Device at Time Warner Center may potentially be transported to the Bronx
CNN’s Poppy Harlow said moments ago that if the potentially explosive cannot be safely defused on-site, it could be transported to a location called Rodman’s Neck in the Bronx and detonated, according to NYPD.
According to the NYPD website, the department maintains a training facility and firing range at that location.
Package sent to CNN offices was delivered mid-morning
From CNN's Brian Stelter
The package sent to Time Warner Center in New York was addressed to 10 Columbus Circle, according to two law enforcement sources.
Both CNN and the Shops at Columbus Circle, a shopping mall, were listed at that address in internet searches.
A Warner Media executive tells CNN's Brian Stelter the package was received mid-morning, in the 9 a.m. hour, and the company doesn't yet know who it was addressed to. WarnerMedia has no information about the sender.
Pence tweet: "We condemn the attempted attacks against fmr Pres Obama, the Clintons, CNN & others"
Vice President Mike Pence just tweeted, "We condemn the attempted attacks against fmr Pres Obama, the Clintons, @CNN & others."
"Those responsible will be brought to justice," he added.
We condemn the attempted attacks against fmr Pres Obama, the Clintons, @CNN & others. These cowardly actions are despicable & have no place in this Country. Grateful for swift response of @SecretService, @FBI & local law enforcement. Those responsible will be brought to justice.
Read Jeff Zucker's email to CNN employees
CNN President Jeff Zucker sent this email to all employees earlier this morning after we learned a suspicious device was found in the Time Warner Center's mailroom. Our newsroom is in the building.
Zucker said the building was "evacuated out of an abundance of caution" and we were "working with authorities to determine the severity of the situation."
All bureaus around the world are being checked "out of a complete abundance of caution," he added.
See the note, tweeted from CNN PR:
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