A police dog is loaded into an SUV outside New Jersey Democratic Sen. Cory Booker’s office in Camden on Friday, October 26, 2018.
New York: Update: US President Donald Trump says bomb alerts are harming Republicans’ vote ‘momentum’ in a tweet.
Republicans are doing so well in early voting, and at the polls, and now this “Bomb” stuff happens and the momentum greatly slows – news not talking politics. Very unfortunate, what is going on. Republicans, go out and vote!— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 26, 2018
Suspicious packages addressed to New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker and former National Intelligence Director James Clapper – and similar in appearance to pipe bomb devices sent to other prominent Democrats – have been intercepted, the FBI said on Friday, as investigators scrambled from coast to coast to locate the culprit and motives behind a bizarre plot aimed at critics of President Donald Trump.
The discoveries brought to 12 the total number of devices addressed in recent days to Democratic figures including former President Barack Obama, former Vice President Joe Biden and Hillary Clinton.
The FBI said the package to Booker was intercepted in Florida.
The #FBI has confirmed an 11th package has been recovered in Florida, similar in appearance to the others, addressed to Sen. Cory Booker.— FBI (@FBI) October 26, 2018
“The #FBI has confirmed an 11th package has been recovered in Florida, similar in appearance to the others, addressed to Sen. Cory Booker,” the FBI posted on Twitter.
#FBI is seeking info from the public to aid in the investigation of the suspicious packages. No piece of info is too small. Do not hesitate to call the FBI tip line at 1-800-CALL-FBI or go online to https://t.co/iL7sD5efWD. Tipsters can remain anonymous. https://t.co/43gM4NBm9s pic.twitter.com/1AHJIB1no5— FBI (@FBI) October 26, 2018
Booker, seen as a potential candidate for the 2020 presidential election, is among politicians, other public figures and TV news network CNN to have been singled out in the campaign.
The FBI also tweeted about what do if one is faced with a suspicious package.
Protect yourself and your business – learn suspicious package indicators. Do not handle suspicious packages yourself. Call 911 immediately. pic.twitter.com/WytAgIZ6M7— FBI (@FBI) October 26, 2018
Meanwhile, an AP source has said a suspicious package was found at a New York post office addressed to former intelligence director James Clapper. Former Director Of National Intelligence clapper says ‘not a surprise’ to be mailed suspicious package, calls it domestic terrorism.
Trump has tweeted to the news as well.
Funny how lowly rated CNN, and others, can criticize me at will, even blaming me for the current spate of Bombs and ridiculously comparing this to September 11th and the Oklahoma City bombing, yet when I criticize them they go wild and scream, “it’s just not Presidential!”— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 26, 2018
Earlier in the day actor Robert De Niro said in a statement released by his publicist: “There’s something more powerful than bombs, and that’s your vote. People must vote!”
A suspicious package containing what authorities described as a crude pipe bomb was discovered at De Niro’s New York City office on Thursday.
De Niro says he is thankful no one was hurt. He also thanked “the brave and resourceful security and law enforcement people for protecting us”.