The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) says suspicious packages received at multiple locations in the New York and Washington, D.C., areas and Florida are being sent for analysis at the FBI Laboratory in Quantico, Virginia.
FBI said the suspicious packages containing pipe bombs were mailed to former U.S. President Barack Obama, former First Lady Hillary Clinton, and a host of other political leaders in the U.S.
The series of explosive devices were also mailed to current and former political leaders as well as the CNN’s New York bureau, including Democratic Representative Maxine Waters and former Attorney-General Eric Holder.
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”.
“We ask anyone who may have information to contact the FBI. Do not hesitate to call; no piece of information is too small to help us in this investigation.”
The bureau, which depicted the packages in a photograph, said they were similar in appearance, and contained potentially destructive devices.
FBI said the packages were mailed in manila envelopes with bubble wrap interior.
The packages were affixed with computer-printed address labels and six Forever stamps, the bureau said.
“All packages had a return address of “DEBBIE WASSERMAN SHULTZ” [sic] in Florida,” FBI said.
It said the package addressed to Holder did not reach its intended destination, but was rerouted to the return address in Florida.
“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. It is possible that additional packages were mailed to other locations. The FBI advises the public to remain vigilant and not touch, move or handle any suspicious or unknown packages.
“If you have information about these packages, please contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI or tips.fbi.gov. If you observe any suspicious activity that requires an immediate response, please call 911 or contact your local law enforcement,” the bureau said.
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