WASHINGTON – At least eight package bombs, which were delivered to top Democrats and a media house, were intercepted before reaching the intended recipients, thwarting a major terror bid two weeks before the mid-term elections.
A statement issued by the FBI said, “Between October 22 and 24, 2018, suspicious packages were received at multiple locations in the New York and Washington, D.C., areas and Florida”.
Former US president Barack Obaman, ex-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Obama’s attorney general, Eric Holder, former CIA Director John Brennan, care of CNN and prominent Democratic Party donor George Soros were among the targets who were sent what the American media called “pipe bombs”.
Two packages were sent to California Congresswoman Maxine Waters, the FBI said, adding that the FBI said it was investigating as an act of terrorism.
Fortunately, no one of the intercepted packages exploded and nobody was hurt. There was no immediate claim of responsibility.
FBI Director Christopher Wray said, “This investigation is of the highest priority for the FBI. We have committed the full strength of the FBI’s resources and, together with our partners on our Joint Terrorism Task Forces, we will continue to work to identify and arrest whoever is responsible for sending these packages”.
The packages are similar in appearance, as depicted in the below photograph, and contain potentially destructive devices.
The packages were mailed in manila envelopes with bubble wrap interior. The packages were affixed with computer-printed address labels and six Forever stamps. All packages had a return address of “DEBBIE WASSERMAN SHULTZ” [sic] in Florida, the FBI statement said.
“The FBI will continue to work with our federal law enforcement partners at the United States Secret Service, United States Postal Inspection Service, and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, as well as our state and local law enforcement partners, to identify and arrest the person or people responsible for sending these packages,” read the statment.
The news of the bomb threats created panic among the people before the elections set to be held on Nov 6 that will decide whether Democrats take control of one or both houses of Congress from Republicans or not.
Responding to the recovery of pipe bombs, Trump told a political rally in Wisconsin on Wednesday his government would carry out “an aggressive investigation.”
“Any acts or threats of political violence are an attack on our democracy itself,” Trump said. “We want all sides to come together in peace and harmony.”
He added that media has a responsiblity “to stop the endless hostility and constant negative and oftentimes false attacks and stories.”
