Investigators believe some of the suspicious, potentially explosive packages sent to 8 prominent politicians and a large media organization may have originated in Florida, according to one law enforcement official. A second law enforcement official said federal investigators are in Florida investigating leads. The latest packages, addressed to former Vice President Joe Biden, are similar to eight others found earlier this week. Those packages were addressed to former President Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, and others, as well as actor Robert DeNiro, a vocal critic of President Trump. The President has denounced the apparent bombing attempts, saying "Such conduct must be fiercely opposed and thoroughly prosecuted," but at a rally Thursday night and again Friday morning he blamed the media, tweeting that "fake news is fueling anger around the country." Most of the packages were intercepted at mail facilities and got nowhere near their intended targets.<doc-sep>Law enforcement officials from New York to Florida are examining clues to find the person or persons who sent 10 packages containing what appear to be explosive materials to prominent Democrats, critics of President Donald Trump, and to CNN's New York offices as authorities classify the incidents as domestic terrorism. Three new packages were detected Thursday -- two intended for former Vice President Joe Biden and one for actor-director Robert DeNiro -- each bearing the same markings as the seven packages detected earlier this week. And authorities now believe several of the packages went through the Opa-locka, Florida, processing and distribution center, according to two law enforcement officials familiar with the investigation. TIMELINE | A timeline of the events as they unfold The devices mark one of the most serious attempts to stoke fear and terror in the US in a period that has already seen a number of violent political attacks. The apparent bombs, while rudimentary in design, according to law enforcement officials, targeted two former US presidents, a former vice president and potential presidential contender, and numerous outspoken critics of the Trump administration. Investigators are reviewing security footage from the CNN building and examining the packages themselves for potential clues, according to current and former law enforcement officials. "Everything is a clue," a law enforcement official said. Related: Crude pipe bombs sent to Obama, Clintons, CNN and others; no injuries reported As authorities examine clues, they are also finding more questions to answer. One key question authorities are puzzling over is why none of the apparent bombs detonated, a second law enforcement source said, raising questions about the skill and motive of the bombmaker. This person said either the bombmaker was good enough to ensure none would go off and never intended them to explode or it was poorly constructed. Authorities consider the bombs to be potentially destructive because of the presence of what is believed to be pyrotechnic powder. Though it appears they were handled through the postal system -- and thus jostled and moved -- without triggering any explosion. William Sweeney, FBI special agent in charge of the New York field office, said Thursday afternoon that the powder discovered with the package sent to CNN did not pose a biological threat but another official said it was undergoing testing. The FBI's counterterrorism team is leading the investigation and has classified it as a domestic terror matter, the law enforcement official said. That classification is based on the absence of other information and could change. The Secret Service, US Postal Inspector Service, and ATF are also working on the investigation with various state and federal offices. Officials said it is possible additional packages could have been mailed to other locations and not yet discovered. NYPD and FBI officials stressed Thursday that the investigation was still in its early stages and they continued to seek tips from the public. If you have info that could assist the #FBI's investigation of suspicious packages, call 1-800-CALLFBI (225-5324) or use https://t.co/iL7sD5efWD. If you observe suspicious activity that requires an immediate response, call 911 or contact local law enforcement immediately. pic.twitter.com/ZsFLKvXrKy — FBI (@FBI) October 25, 2018 Fingerprints and evidence The bombs were packaged in manila envelopes with bubble-wrap lining, according to the FBI. They each bore computer-printed address labels and six American flag stamps. Some went through the US mail service while others appeared to be delivered by individuals. Investigators will be looking for fingerprints on the package, on the back of any tape that may have been used, and on the stamps and labels. If the seals were licked, investigators may be able to pull DNA from the saliva, officials say. They will also look for any hairs or other materials that could help identify the sender or location. Other information on the packages will also be rich investigative lines. If the packages were scanned by the US postal system, investigators may be able to determine which machines scanned the documents and when. However, unlike FedEx or other private mail delivery services, the US mail system is not set up to track every single piece of mail. Recommended: CNN office in New York one of many to receive explosive device package this week Authorities believe several of the packages went through the Opa-locka, Florida processing and distribution center. According to a US Postal Service employee, this facility handles mail that is incoming and outgoing from south Florida. Investigators who traced a string of package bombs in Texas that killed two people and wounded five in March used those same tools to pull DNA from the packages. In addition, investigators used signals from cell phone towers to help narrow down the potential suspects in the area at the time the packages were dropped off, according to a law enforcement official. They relied on closed circuit cameras to narrow the field further, the official said. It took investigators 18 days to track down Mark Anthony Conditt, who killed himself with one of his own explosive devices. Those tactics are likely to be deployed as authorities trace couriers and any individual who may hand delivered the packages. Authorities believe the package sent to George Soros, the billionaire philanthropist who has backed Democrats, was hand delivered to his residence in Westchester County. All of the bombs are being transported to the FBI lab in Quantico, Virginia, for analysis, officials say. At the lab the bombs themselves will be dissected. According to a law enforcement official, the bombs so far appear to show the presence of a sulfur substance, which would be the ingredient that was intended to explode. Authorities will examine the components of the bomb and look for clues as to where they may have been purchased and any similarities or differences between the individual packages. Pipe bombs are inherently unstable devices and could be set off simply by handling them. Outside experts have pointed to the lack of a triggering mechanism, suggesting it was never meant to explode. The device includes very common components, making it more difficult to get clues from the signature of the bomb.<doc-sep>After 14 potential explosive devices were mailed to prominent Democrats, law enforcement authorities on Friday continued to search post offices after warning the public about more potentially dangerous packages. "This has to be taken with the most seriousness," New York City Police Commissioner James P. O’Neill told reporters at a Thursday news conference when asked to address claims that the mailings were part of a hoax. "We are treating them as suspected explosive devices." So far, none of the suspected packages have injured anyone. Officials were searching a mail distribution center in Florida Thursday night for possible clues on where the packages originated. A scare at Time Warner Center in New York also caused more panic, after reports of unattended packages. Here's what we know now. One taken into custody Cesar Sayoc, 56, has been charged in Florida. Sayoc has a prior criminal history, including a 2002 charge for threatening to "throw, project, place or discharge any destructive device." His criminal record dates back to 1991, with arrests for theft, drug offenses and traffic infractions. Sayoc was charged with five federal crimes Friday, including interstate transportation of an explosive, illegal mailing of an explosive and threats against former presidents. He faces a maximum of 48 years in prison, Attorney General Jeff Sessions said in a news conference Friday. Sayoc, of Aventura, Florida, is a registered Republican and last voted in the November 2016 election. He graduated from North Miami Beach High School in 1980. Authorities used a fingerprint found on an envelope sent to Rep. Maxine Waters to identify Sayoc as a suspect, FBI Director Christopher Wray said Friday. Trump calls arrest 'an incredible job' President Donald Trump lauded law enforcement officials for the arrest on Friday during the Young Black Leadership Summit at the White House. He called the bombings "despicable" and said political violence has "no place in our country." Trump's comments come after tweets this morning alleging the bomb-like devices were shifting the national conversation away from early voting for the Nov. 6 midterm elections. What do we know about the latest packages? The three latest packages bring the total to 14 bomb-like devices. The FBI confirmed Friday that they had found a suspicious package "similar in appearance to the others" that was addressed to Democrat Sen. Cory Booker in Florida. A suspicious package was also recovered at Sen. Kamala Harris's office in Sacramento, California Friday. Another package was intercepted at a mail facility in Burlingame, California addressed to billionaire Tom Steyer. Former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper was the target of another bomb-like device recovered in Manhattan, a person familiar with the matter told USA TODAY Friday. The device was addressed to Clapper and had the office of Florida Democratic Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz as the return address. The New York Police Department had closed a Manhattan intersection to traffic and pedestrians near W. 52nd Street between 8th and 9th Avenues on Friday morning to handle the suspicious package. The person was not authorized to speak about the matter publicly. What's the Opa Locka, Florida, connection? A postal distribution center in Opa Locka, Florida, is being closely monitored because several of the suspicious packages might have passed through it, according to a law enforcement official who is not authorized to comment publicly. Miami-Dade police bomb-squad and K-9 officers were called out to the center Thursday evening as federal authorities continued their investigation at the facility. More:Authorities eye Florida in hunt for source of suspicious packages, as security officials worry danger 'not over' What about Thursday's Time Warner evacuation? Time Warner Center in midtown Manhattan, where CNN's New York offices are located, was partially evacuated Thursday night when the New York Police Department responded to reports of a pair of unattended packages. The packages were cleared and no threat was found. Earlier this week, a bomb-like device was sent to the building addressed to former CIA Director John Brennan and the CNN offices were evacuated. More:How to identify a suspicious package, and what to do with it Where were packages addressed? Hillary Clinton's home in Westchester County, New York Former President Barack Obama's residence in Washington Former CIA Director John Brennan, sent to CNN’s offices in New York City California Democratic Rep. Maxine Waters Florida's Democratic Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (a package discovered at her office was addressed to former U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder) Billionaire George Soros, in the mailbox at his home in Bedford, New York Former Vice President Joe Biden; two packages were intercepted at Delaware postal facilities Robert De Niro's offices in New York New Jersey Democratic Senator Cory Booker in Florida Former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper in New York Senator Kamala Harris's office in Sacramento, California Billionaire Tom Steyer in California Will there be more suspicious packages? Authorities warned the public on Thursday to be on the lookout for more suspicious packages that could still be in the mail system. O'Neill told reporters there are no current or credible threats that law enforcement is aware of. And he expressed confidence that the culprit would be caught. Two law enforcement officials said Thursday that investigators have been increasingly focused on the mail streams in and out of Florida, largely since the device addressed to Holder was recovered when it was re-routed back to the return address of Wasserman Schultz. The two officials who are not authorized to comment publicly said authorities had not identified a suspect. More:White House denies that Trump's rhetoric to blame for suspicious packages, 'anger' in society Contributing: Ledyard King, Bart Jansen, Kevin Johnson and Ryan Miller<doc-sep>A law enforcement official said the envelope and printed address labels on the packages sent to Mr. Biden and Mr. De Niro were similar to those sent to the CNN offices in New York and to former President Barack Obama, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and others. An X-ray showed the package sent to Mr. De Niro contained a device that seemed to be a pipe bomb. Federal, state and local investigators in New York, Washington, Florida and Los Angeles have all joined forces in the rapidly widening case, which has sent a shock through the nation’s political and news media establishments. Though investigators initially believed that some of the packages were delivered by hand or courier, they have now concluded that all 10 were likely sent through the mail, a person briefed on the matter said. The Postal Service records images of mail that comes into its system. As part of the inquiry, officials have been searching those images in an effort to determine where the packages originated, as well as to identify and catch any other possible explosive devices. In addition to conducting a forensic examination of the packages and explosive devices, federal authorities were seeking to determine where the envelopes, mailing labels and bomb components were purchased. Several law-enforcement officials said that investigators would likely obtain data from cell towers in the areas where they believe the packages were mailed. The data from each area could then be cross-referenced to create lists of phone numbers — and, ultimately, phone users — who were in the areas around the times the packages were mailed, the officials said.<doc-sep>
Who got what, when: A timeline of when bombs were found REFILE-CORRECTING TYPO A member of the New York Police Department bomb squad is pictured outside the Time Warner Center in the Manhattan borough of New York City after a suspicious package was found inside the CNN Headquarters in New York, U.S., October 24, 2018. Tom Steyer, co-founder of NextGen Climate Action Committee, attends a "Need To Impeach" event in Detroit, Michigan, U.S., on Monday, Aug. 13, 2018. Steyer plans to spend an additional $10 million on helping Democrats take control of the House by attempting to drive up turnout among infrequent voters motivated by the idea of impeaching President Donald Trump. (CNN) — The nationwide manhunt for the person or people who sent 10 potential bombs to critics of President Donald Trump and CNN’s office in New York led authorities to a mail facility in South Florida on Thursday night. Several of the packages went through a US Postal facility in Opa-locka, Florida, two law enforcement officials familiar with the investigation said. On Thursday night, the Miami-Dade County Police Department said it was assisting federal agents who were at the facility as part of the ongoing investigation. “This assistance is as a precautionary measure,” the department tweeted. “We cannot provide additional information at this time due to the active nature of this federal investigation.” The news came on a day when three more packages with potential bombs were discovered. A total of 10 devices, none of which exploded, have been found, including two packages addressed to former Vice President Joe Biden. Those packages were removed late Thursday morning from Delaware postal facilities, law enforcement officials said. Earlier Thursday, a suspicious package addressed to acting legend and Trump critic Robert De Niro was reported at the Manhattan building where his production company is based. Its marking and contents appear similar to the other pipe bomb packages, two law enforcement sources said. Law enforcement authorities are treating the bombs as a domestic terror matter. Bombs sent to FBI lab for closer look All 10 packages went through the US mail, according to multiple law enforcement officials familiar with the investigation. The one that was delivered to CNN’s New York office was delivered by a courier, one of the law enforcement officials said. George Soros, a billionaire philanthropist who has backed Democrats, also uses a courier that picks up his mail at a post office, goes through and delivers the filtered items to his home, the source said. It is possible that the private company hired to handle his mail was the one that delivered the package to his home. Some packages are thought to have been sent through first-class mail, another source familiar with the investigation said. The bombs were taken to an FBI lab in Quantico, Virginia, officials said. A law enforcement official familiar with the investigation said a suspicious powder from one package was tested and initially deemed not to be anthrax or a known agent. The source added that there will be more testing over the coming days. Questions about the bombmaker One key question authorities are puzzling over is why none of the apparent bombs detonated, a law enforcement source said, raising questions about the skill and motive of the bombmaker. The FBI called them “potentially destructive devices” – so either the bombmaker was good enough to ensure none would go off and never intended them to explode, or they were poorly constructed. 02:02 - Source: CNN Sanders: Trump's response was presidential The presence of what is believed to be pyrotechnic powder is one reason why authorities consider them to be potentially destructive, though it appears they were handled through the postal system – where they were jostled and moved – without any explosion. Outside experts have pointed to the lack of a triggering mechanism, suggesting they were never meant to explode. “Whoever is doing this is just trying to elicit a fear or disrupt something,” said Ryan Morris, founder of Tripwire Operations Group, a company that provides explosives training to law enforcement and military officials. He had examined images of the devices sent to Soros and to CNN’s New York offices. “There are a multitude of more sophisticated methodologies that would have worked if they really wanted this to work,” he added. The devices included very common components, making it more difficult to get clues from the signature of the bomb. But the components could still provide clues – like the clock and the tape used.