Hunt for US bomber zeros in on Florida mail centre
A Florida mail centre has emerged as the focus of a manhunt for the US’s serial bomber.
Florida has emerged as the focus of a manhunt for America’s serial bomber as police confirmed packages sent to former vice-president Joe Biden and actor Robert De Niro were also pipe bombs.
The discovery takes to 10 the number of homemade bombs posted to prominent critics or political rivals of Donald Trump.
The discoveries have prompted the US Secret Service to increase patrols of high-profile individuals and organisations — including former Democrat president Jimmy Carter — who could be targets.
“We will identify and arrest a person or people responsible for these acts, make no mistake,” New York Police Commissioner James O’Neill said yesterday.
He did not say whether the devices were designed to explode but he said they were not being treated as a hoax even though 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.
All of those targeted, who 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 yesterday 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 St 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. Investigators are homing in on a postal facility in Opa-locka, Florida, where they believe some of the packages originated, an official said yesterday.
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.
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 violence through his divisive rhetoric.
Mr Trump 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.
“It has gotten so bad and hateful that it is beyond description. Mainstream Media must clean up its act, FAST!”
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.”
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.
New York Mayor Bill de Blasio described the attacks as “absolutely terrorism” because it sought to use violence to make a political impact.
One of the 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 Ms Wasserman Schultz and one package was sent to her office after it used an incorrect address for Obama attorney-general Eric Holder. Another two were found addressed to California Democrat Maxine Waters.
Early this week a similar device was found in a mailbox at the New York residence of George Soros, a liberal philanthropist frequently a target of anger for conservatives.
Cameron Stewart is also US contributor for Sky News Australia
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