Washington: Suspected explosive devices were sent to former president Barack Obama, defeated presidential nominee Hillary Clinton and CNN hours apart and less than two weeks before sharply polarizing US elections, officials confirmed Wednesday.
The two Democrats are among the most high-profile political figures in the United States, which goes to the polls on November 6 in elections seen as a referendum on Republican President Donald Trump.
CNN has distinguished itself in the last two years for its aggressive coverage of the Trump administration and robust criticism of the Republican, who succeeded Obama and defeated Clinton in the 2016 election, AFP reported.
The New York Times reported that the packages were similar to an explosive device found at the New York home of billionaire liberal donor George Soros on Monday. In Florida, police were investigating a suspicious package near the office of a Democrat lawmaker, Debbie Wasserman Schultz.
The White House swiftly condemned what it called "despicable" acts.
"These terrorizing acts are despicable, and anyone responsible will be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law," said Press Secretary Sarah Sanders, later adding that Trump and his administration were "monitoring closely."
Trump himself confined his initial comment to retweeting a condemnation from Vice President Mike Pence against the "cowardly" attempted attacks, adding: "I agree wholeheartedly!"
CNN evacuated its New York bureau Wednesday after a suspicious device, which police described as a metal pipe with wires, was found in the mailroom. Bomb squad were on the scene, New York police confirmed.
It was addressed care of CNN to former CIA director John Brennan, who has worked as a television analyst but not for the channel.
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