US bomb campaign: Florida emerges as focus of manhunt for serial bomber

Florida emerges as the focus of a manhunt for America’s serial bomber as police confirm Joe Biden and Robert De Niro were also targets.

Florida has emerged as the focus of a massive manhunt for America’s serial bomber as police confirmed that packages sent to former Vice President Joe Biden and actor Robert De Niro overnight were also pipe bombs.

The discovery takes to 10 the number of homemade bombs posted to prominent eight prominent critics or political rivals of the president Donald Trump in a campaign which has unnerved the nation.

The discoveries have prompted secret service to increase patrols of high profile individuals and organisations — including former Democrat president Jimmy Carter — who could potentially be targets.

All of those targeted, which also include former presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton as well as former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and former CIA director John Brennan have been the subject of angry rhetoric from Mr Trump.

Authorities early today discovered two bombs in separate mail rooms in Delaware addressed to Mr Biden, who is the early Democrat frontrunner to challenge Mr Trump in the 2020 presidential race.

Another package was discovered by a security guard in the production company of actor and frequent Trump critic De Niro in lower Manhattan.

De Niro’s spokesman, Stan Rosenfield said the discovery was: “extremely disturbing and frightening’’.

“It seems that all the people that were targeted have one thing in common and that is their political beliefs. That is the only thing I can conclude at this point.”

According to officials cited by The Wall Street Journal, authorities are focusing their investigation on Florida after discovering that at least one of the packages was likely to have been sent from there.

Authorities believe the timing of the attacks and the fact that most of the packages appeared identical make it likely that only one person is responsible for them, but they have not ruled out more people being involved.

“We will identify and arrest a person or people responsible for these acts, make no mistake,” NYPD Commissioner James O’Neill said today.

He did not say whether the devices were designed to explode but he said they were not being treated as a hoax even though the white powder found inside them was found to be harmless.

“We’re taking this seriously. We are treating them as live devices … as far as hoax devices, we’re not treating it that way,’ he said.

The fact that all of the targets of the attacks are left-wing politicians or opinion-makers has sparked a partisan battle, with Democrats accusing Mr Trump of inciting such violence through his divisive rhetoric.

Mr Trump this morning continued to blame the media for fanning political divisions, tweeting: “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,” Mr Trump said. “It has gotten so bad and hateful that it is beyond description. Mainstream Media must clean up its act, FAST!”

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. It has gotten so bad and hateful that it is beyond description. Mainstream Media must clean up its act, FAST!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 25, 2018

But one of the targets of the bomber, former CIA director Mr Brennan hit back at the president.

“Stop blaming others. Look in the mirror,” Mr Brennan tweeted. “Your inflammatory rhetoric, insults, lies, & encouragement of physical violence are disgraceful. Clean up your act … try to act Presidential.”

Stop blaming others. Look in the mirror. Your inflammatory rhetoric, insults, lies, & encouragement of physical violence are disgraceful. Clean up your act....try to act Presidential. The American people deserve much better. BTW, your critics will not be intimidated into silence. https://t.co/cS5qNiuU7o

— John O. Brennan (@JohnBrennan) October 25, 2018

White House press secretary Sarah Sanders said there was a distinction between rhetoric and deeds.

“There is a big difference between comments made and actions taken,” she said. “The president is certainly not responsible for sending suspicious packages to someone no more than Bernie Sanders was responsible for a supporter of his shooting up a Republican baseball field practice last year.”

Each of the bombs, sent in manila envelopes with bubble wrap contained a 15cm pipe packed with powder and broken glass and a small battery.

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said it was likely that more could be discovered in the days ahead. “It’s prudent and diligent to expect more,” he said.

One of the explosive devices was found in the Florida office of Democrat Debbie Wasserman Schultz, who chaired the Democratic National Committee during part of the 2016 campaign.

Officials said all the packages used as a return address the office of Wasserman Schultz and that one package was sent to her office after it used an incorrect address for former Democrat attorney general Eric Holder. Another two devices were found addressed to California Democrat Maxine Waters.

Early this week a similar explosive device was found in a mailbox at the New York residence of George Soros, a liberal philanthropist who is frequently a target of anger for conservative groups.

Cameron Stewart is also US Contributor for Sky News Australia