FBI searches Florida mail centre in hunt for sender of package bombs

By Zachary Fagenson

 

Law enforcement personnel operate a bomb disposal robot outside a post office which had been evacuated in Wilmington, Delaware, U.S. October 25, 2018. REUTERS/Mark Makela

 

MIAMI (Reuters) - Federal agents searched a U.S. mail facility near Miami on Thursday night racing to find who sent 10 pipe bombs to prominent Democrats and critics of U.S. President Donald Trump as leads pointed to Florida as the possible origin of the packages.

 

Investigators are treating the devices as "live" explosives, not a hoax, said James O'Neill, police commissioner of New York City, where two of the parcels have surfaced since the bomb scare began Monday with a device addressed to billionaire Democratic Party donor George Soros.

 

A federal law enforcement source told Reuters the devices were thought to have been fashioned from bomb-making designs widely available on the internet.

 

Investigators believe the packages, which were intercepted before reaching their intended recipients, all went through the U.S. Postal Service at some point, that source said. None detonated and no one has been hurt.

 

Authorities have branded the parcel bombs, coming less than two weeks before national elections that could alter the balance of power on Capitol Hill, as an act of terrorism, though they have declined to say whether the devices were built to be functional.

 

Bomb experts and security analysts say that based on the rudimentary construction of the bombs it appeared they were more likely designed to sow fear rather than to kill.

 

But the episode sparked an outcry from Trump's critics who said his frequent expressions of inflammatory rhetoric against perceived enemies among Democrats and the press was stoking a climate ripe for politically motivated violence.

 

After first calling for "unity" and civil discourse on Wednesday, Trump lashed out again Thursday at the "hateful" media, while his supporters accused Democrats of unfairly suggesting the president was to blame for the bomb scare.

 

FLORIDA WAREHOUSE

Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen, in an interview with Fox News Channel, confirmed that Florida was the starting point for at least a portion of the bomb shipments.

 

"Some of the packages went through the mail. They originated, some of them, from Florida," she said. "I am confident that this person or people will be brought to justice."

 

A police bomb squad and canine units joined federal investigators on Thursday examining a U.S. mail distribution centre at Opa-Locka, northwest of Miami, Miami-Dade County police said.

 

The sprawling warehouse, where authorities believe several of the parcels were processed, appeared to remain in operation during the search, with tractor-trailer traffic continuing to and from the facility as police were seen walking around the loading docks.

 

On Wednesday, two days after the first package arrived at Soros' home, the FBI identified five more targets - President Barack Obama, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, former Attorney General Eric Holder, former CIA director John Brennan, and California Representative Maxine Waters. Two packages were found addressed to her.

 

Brennan's package was sent in care of the Manhattan bureau of CNN, where he has appeared as an on-air analyst.

 

On Thursday, the investigation widened with the discovery of three additional packages - two intended for former Vice President Joe Biden in his home state of Delaware and one for Hollywood actor Robert De Niro in Manhattan.

 

MORE TO COME?

"It does remain possible that further packages have been or could be mailed," William Sweeney, assistant director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, told an afternoon news conference in New York.

 

The FBI has said that at least five of the packages bore a return address for the Florida office of U.S. Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz, who formerly chaired the Democratic National Committee. Holder's package ended up rerouted and delivered to the Wasserman Schultz return address.

 

No one has claimed responsibility for the bombs, and the public was asked to report any tips.

 

The parcels each consisted of a manila envelope with a bubble-wrap interior containing "potentially destructive devices," the FBI said.

 

Each was affixed with a computer-printed address label and six "forever" postage stamps, the agency said.

 

Sweeney said all of the devices were being sent to the FBI's crime lab in Quantico, Virginia, for analysis.

 

Most of the intended recipients were high-profile Democrats and all were known to be outspoken critics of Trump, foils for his political rhetoric or both.

 

Trump long questioned Obama's U.S. citizenship and referred to Clinton, whom he defeated in the 2016 presidential race, as "crooked Hillary." He has derided Waters publicly as "low-IQ Maxine."

 

The president revoked Brennan's security clearance after the ex-CIA chief, a veteran intelligence official in Democratic and Republican administrations, lambasted Trump's Russia summit performance as "nothing short of treasonous."

 

Biden once said he would have fought Trump if they were in high school, while De Niro received a loud ovation when he hurled an obscenity at Trump at the Tony Awards in June.

 

At a Wisconsin rally on Wednesday night Trump, who has denounced news media organizations as an "enemy of the people," called attention to "how nice I’m behaving tonight” but on Thursday morning he attacked the media again.

 

"A very big part of the Anger we see today in our society is caused by the purposely false and inaccurate reporting of the Mainstream Media that I refer to as Fake News," Trump wrote. "It has gotten so bad and hateful that it is beyond description. Mainstream Media must clean up its act, FAST!"

 

(Additional reporting by Gabriella Borter, Jonathan Allen and Barbara Goldberg in New York; Mark Hosenball and Susan Heavey in Washington; Brendan O'Brien in Milwaukee; Writing by Bill Trott and Steve Gorman; Editing by Lisa Shumaker and Cynthia Osterman)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2018-10-26

22 minutes ago, webfact said:

A very big part of the Anger we see today in our society is caused by the purposely false and inaccurate reporting of the Mainstream Media that I refer to as Fake News," Trump wrote. "It has gotten so bad and hateful that it is beyond description. Mainstream Media must clean up its act, FAST!"

Nonsense. 

Quote

" Some of the packages went through the mail. They originated, some of them, from Florida," she said. "I am confident that this person or people will be brought to justice."

 

only an idea:

Isn't Mar-a-Lago located in Florida?

I am willing to bet all my money on this is a lunatic and a loner , probably an American , born in the US. 

 

I can't see a muslim connection at all here. 

 

I would wager the bomb poster is a keen fan of Fox "News" particularly Sean Hannity.

The police should profile people with bright red necks, married to their own sisters, and having very few black teeth.

It would be hysterical if it was an employee of CNN. 

3 hours ago, Briggsy said:

I would wager the bomb poster is a keen fan of Fox "News" particularly Sean Hannity.

Much more likely to be a millennial who keeps black clothes, hoodie, and a balaclava in their closet, has a 'bash a fash' tattoo, and watches CNN in their mom's basement.   

4 hours ago, balo said:

I am willing to bet all my money on this is a lunatic and a loner , probably an American , born in the US. 

 

I can't see a muslim connection at all here. 

 

 

Was this even seriously suggested?

I don’t know how things are down Florida way but in any normal place turning up at a post office with parcels addressed to Obama, Clinton, Soros or Biden might get you noticed.

 

And if not, posting a parcel to Robert De Niro would definitely get attention.

2 hours ago, connda said:

Much more likely to be a millennial who keeps black clothes, hoodie, and a balaclava in their closet, has a 'bash a fash' tattoo, and watches CNN in their mom's basement.   

Jacob Engels (26) - an Orlando-based Republican consultant and member of the far right Proud Boys group? 

A provocateur and close associate of fellow InfoWars contributor Roger Stone.

https://www.tampabay.com/florida-politics/buzz/2018/10/20/alt-right-florida-gop-operative-complains-he-was-assaulted-while-taunting-people-at-andrew-gillum-rally/

JACOB ENGELS INFLUENTIAL INTERVIEW

http://www.patrickslevin.com/blog/2018/4/24/jacob-engels

Whoever the nut job is I hope they are caught soon.What really shook me up is an interview with Robert Mechum(spelling last name)the well known presidential historian he compared it with the 1865 killing of president Lincoln in the sense of going after all the leadership (I know they aren’t in power) that being said to see trumps reaction to it is deeply disturbing 

Arrest made.... details may be given by sessions at 1430hrs EST.

9 minutes ago, farcanell said:

Arrest made.... details may be given by sessions at 1430hrs EST.

I just have read the same in a German magazine. A man arrested "in Florida".

More details will follow later.

2 minutes ago, puck2 said:

I just have read the same in a German magazine. A man arrested "in Florida".

More details will follow later.

I’ve dragged out the popcorn already ????????????

Florida man arrested in bombing case:

https://boingboing.net/2018/10/26/florida-man-arrested-in-packag.html

“Suspect arrested in pipe bomb case had right wing Trump stickers all over his van.”

14 minutes ago, attrayant said:

Florida man arrested in bombing case:

https://boingboing.net/2018/10/26/florida-man-arrested-in-packag.html

“Suspect arrested in pipe bomb case had right wing Trump stickers all over his van.”

Let's see how the right wing media and Trump lackeys spin this one!

 

 

3 hours ago, Srikcir said:

Jacob Engels (26) - an Orlando-based Republican consultant and member of the far right Proud Boys group? 

A provocateur and close associate of fellow InfoWars contributor Roger Stone.

https://www.tampabay.com/florida-politics/buzz/2018/10/20/alt-right-florida-gop-operative-complains-he-was-assaulted-while-taunting-people-at-andrew-gillum-rally/

JACOB ENGELS INFLUENTIAL INTERVIEW

http://www.patrickslevin.com/blog/2018/4/24/jacob-engels

Funnily enough, ever since this item appeared, that cockroach Stone has been on my mind.  This would be typical of such a sleazy operator.

6 hours ago, connda said:

Much more likely to be a millennial who keeps black clothes, hoodie, and a balaclava in their closet, has a 'bash a fash' tattoo, and watches CNN in their mom's basement.   

It would seem not

 

https://apple.news/AtQixIaqlTheT20s8iJIQiA

 

 

6 minutes ago, Silurian said:

Let's see how the right wing media and Trump lackeys spin this one!

 

 

I imagine the ones here on TV will be along in a minute to condemn the perp as they promised they would, and to apologise for spreading all that disinformation. 

This psycho is now off the streets, thanks to Trump's FBI. 

 

This is what happens when a president fully backs law enforcment.

 

Good job, President Trump!

They got him right wing nut job whew that was quick kudos!!

20 minutes ago, Kelsall said:

This psycho is now off the streets

For a minute I thought you were talking about the President. 

 

For a minute I thought you were talking about the President. 
 

Yeah. Don't tease us. Images of dancing in the streets!

Sent from my Lenovo A7020a48 using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

22 minutes ago, Kelsall said:

This psycho is now off the streets, thanks to Trump's FBI. 

 

This is what happens when a president fully backs law enforcment.

 

Good job, President Trump!

Irony?

 

or are you congratulating trump for inspiring home grown terrorists to act on his behalf?

 

its early days yet, but first indications suggest trump should emulate King Henry the second, who crawled on his knees, and was whipped by priests, whilst begging god for forgiveness, following the murder (in his name) of saint Thomas Beckett. 

Nut job. 

12 hours ago, puck2 said:

 

only an idea:

Isn't Mar-a-Lago located in Florida?

 

I think they've let Barron play with the science kit again.

Here Is Would Be Democratic Assassin Cesar Sayoc Jr. At A Trump Rally

https://www.politicususa.com/2018/10/26/cesar-sayoc-jr-trump-rally.html

I'm looking forward to reading all the tin-foil-hat brigade's "false flag" explanations about Trump supporting nut job Cesar Sayoc.

 

I'm guessing he was kidnapped as a child and forced into a CIA MK Ultra program, then he's infiltrated the Trump MAGA supporting crowds, ready and waiting to spring into action after receiving a signal from his handler. Trump of course will claim that the photographs are photo-shopped and no one in the GOP has ever seen or heard of him. 

 

Nice hat...