Potential Explosive Devices Were Sent to Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama: Here’s What We Know

Three suspicious packages believed to be explosive devices and addressed to Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama were intercepted by the US Secret Service, the government agency confirmed on Wednesday, October 24. The agency also released a statement to refute earlier claims that a third intercepted package had been addressed to the White House.

“Late on October 23, 2018, the Secret Service recovered a single package addressed to Former First Lady Hillary Clinton in Westchester County, New York,” a statement reads. “Early this morning, October 24, 2018, a second package addressed to the residence of Former President Barack Obama was intercepted by Secret Service personnel in Washington, DC.”

The packages, which were discovered by technicians who screen mail sent to both, were identified as potential explosive devices and were handled as such, never reaching the intended addressees, according to the Secret Service.

“We condemn the attempted violent attacks recently made against President Obama, President Clinton, Secretary Clinton, and other public figures,” Sarah Sanders, the White House press secretary, said in a statement Wednesday morning. “These terrorizing acts are despicable, and anyone responsible will be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law. The United States Secret Service and other law enforcement agencies are investigating and will take all appropriate actions to protect anyone threatened by these cowards.”

According to CNN’s law enforcement sources, another suspicious package containing a “pipe bomb” that was addressed to the White House was intercepted at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling in Washington, DC. The device was reportedly similar to those addressed to the homes of Clinton and Obama, and to the one found in the mailbox of George Soros, an investor, philanthropist, and Democratic donor, earlier this week. Reuters, however, reports that people close to the situation deny a device was sent to the White House.

Shortly after news of the devices intended for Clinton and Obama broke, another suspicious package was reportedly found at CNN‘s Time Warner Center studios in NYC. Anchors had to quickly exit on-air segments as the building was evacuated. So far, no connection between the devices has been confirmed.

(Photo by Justin Sullivan + Sara D. Davis/Getty)