WASHINGTON/NEW YORK (Reuters) - Former U.S. President Barack Obama and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton were among the targets of suspected package bombs delivered to several high-profile Democrats and CNN, which the FBI said it was investigating as an act of terrorism. At least eight suspicious parcels were intercepted before reaching any intended recipients, including Obama’s attorney general, Eric Holder, former CIA Director John Brennan and prominent Democratic Party donor George Soros. Two packages were sent to California Congresswoman Maxine Waters, the FBI said. Investigators were trying to track down another suspicious parcel they believe was addressed to Obama’s vice president, Joe Biden, a federal official told Reuters late on Wednesday. None of the eight packages detonated, and nobody was hurt. There was no immediate claim of responsibility. But news of the bomb threats heightened tension in a nation deeply polarized ahead of elections on Nov. 6 that will decide whether Democrats take control of one or both houses of Congress from Republicans and deny President Donald Trump the majority his party now holds in both. Some leading Democrats were quick to accuse Trump himself of stoking the potential for political violence by frequently engaging in hyper-partisan, vitriolic rhetoric. Trump told a political rally in Wisconsin on Wednesday his government would conduct “an aggressive investigation.” “Any acts or threats of political violence are an attack on our democracy itself,” Trump said. “We want all sides to come together in peace and harmony.” But he said the media has a responsibility “to stop the endless hostility and constant negative and oftentimes false attacks and stories.” MANILA ENVELOPES The first package, which turned up on Monday, was addressed to Soros, the billionaire financier and frequent target of right-wing conspiracy theories. The parcel intended for Holder ended up rerouted to the return address printed on all the packages - the Florida office of U.S. Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz, who formerly chaired the Democratic National Committee, according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The FBI said late on Wednesday it had confirmed that two additional packages, similar in appearance to the others, were addressed to U.S. Representative Waters, a veteran Democratic congresswoman from Los Angeles and also an outspoken Trump critic. An earlier FBI statement said the other packages consisted of a manila envelope with a bubble-wrap interior containing “potentially destructive devices.” Each bore a computer-printed address label and six “Forever” postage stamps. Other officials said the devices contained in the envelopes were all similar to one found in the mailbox of the Soros home and later detonated by police. At least one bomb was packed with shards of glass, one federal source said. The U.S. Secret Service intercepted packages addressed to Obama at his Washington home and to Clinton, the 2016 Democratic nominee for president, at her home in New York state. The CNN bureau in New York received a package addressed to Brennan, who has appeared as an on-air CNN analyst, leading police to evacuate the Time Warner building in a busy Manhattan neighborhood near Central Park. It contained an envelope of white powder that experts were analyzing, Police Commissioner James O’Neill said. Slideshow ( 34 images ) The package to Clinton was found late on Tuesday while the one addressed to Obama was recovered early on Wednesday, both during routine off-site mail screenings, the Secret Service said. Obama and Clinton were not at risk, they said. “So far the devices have been what appeared to be pipe bombs,” John Miller, the New York City police deputy commissioner for intelligence and counterterrorism, told a news conference. An FBI-led Joint Terrorism Task Force of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies “will continue to work to identity and arrest whosoever is responsible for sending these packages,” FBI Director Christopher Wray said in a statement. ‘WORDS MATTER’ Slideshow ( 34 images ) All of the targets are frequently maligned by right-wing critics. Trump has repeatedly criticized CNN as “fake news” and disparaged the mainstream news media as an “enemy of the people.” “There is a total and complete lack of understanding at the White House about the seriousness of their continued attacks on the media,” CNN President Jeff Zucker said in a statement read on CNN. “The president, and especially the White House press secretary, should understand that their words matter. Thus far they have shown no comprehension of that.” U.S. Democratic leaders in Congress said Trump’s call for unity rang “hollow” because of his past statements condoning acts of violence. Last week, Trump, who has joined other Republicans in accusing Democrats of encouraging “mob” tactics, heaped praise on a Montana congressman who assaulted a reporter in 2017. At an event in Austin, Texas on Wednesday, Brennan also faulted Trump for frequent inflammatory rhetoric, saying the president “too often has helped incite some of these feelings of anger, if not violence, when he points to acts of violence.” “He should not be beating the tom-toms of anger and animosity and war,” said the former CIA chief, whose security clearance was revoked by Trump after he criticized the president’s summit earlier this year with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Trump at the Wisconsin rally called attention to “how nice I’m behaving tonight.” “Have you ever seen this? We’re all behaving very well and hopefully we can keep it that way, right?”<doc-sep>NEW YORK – Authorities were investigating two additional suspicious packages Wednesday evening after an all-day effort that led to the discovery of devices – including pipe bombs – sent to prominent Democrats across the country, including former President Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton. The latest discovery Wednesday evening was a package believed to have been addressed to former Vice President Joe Biden. Reuters and CNN reported federal authorities were searching for the package, which was returned to sender. It was considered suspicious due to the similarities to other packages discovered. Another package was being investigated in Los Angeles after discovered Wednesday evening. The Los Angeles Police Department posted on Twitter that the package was discovered at the Los Angeles Central Mail facility near Downtown Los Angeles. The center was evacuated so the package could be deemed safe. The FBI said agents have intercepted the package and a second, both addressed to Rep. Maxine Waters, D-Calif. The first was discovered by Capitol Police Wednesday afternoon at an off-site mail facility in the Washington area. The bureau confirmed the two packages in a statement, saying they are "similar in appearance" to the others found. More: Trump tones down attacks, calls for civility Also:Suspicious packages delivered to Clintons, Obamas, Soros, CNN: What we know so far Related:CNN office evacuates while live on air after package intercepted at New York office The packages are the latest in a seemingly coordinated coast-to-coast attack on prominent liberals. Throughout the day Wednesday, packages were discovered in Washington, New York and Florida. CNN's offices in midtown Manhattan were evacuated after a package addressed to former CIA director John Brennan, a frequent commentator on the network, contained a pipe bomb and an envelope with white powder inside. Those sent packages included: Obama in Washington, Clinton in suburban New York, Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz in South Florida, the Westchester County, New York, residence of philanthropist and Democratic donor George Soros, along with CNN and the two addressed to Waters. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced he was deploying 100 National Guardsmen to mass transit systems across the state in light of the threats and to help people feel safer as federal authorities attempt to find a motive and the person or people responsible. The FBI said Wednesday afternoon the five original packages were mailed in manila envelopes with bubble wrap interior. "The packages were affixed with computer-printed address labels and six Forever stamps. All packages had a return address of “DEBBIE WASSERMAN SHULTZ” [sic] in Florida," the agency said in the statement. The packages were taken to the FBI lab in Quantico, Virginiafor examination. "So far, the devices have been what appear to be pipe bombs," NYPD Deputy Commissioner John Miller said in a mid-day news conference Wednesday in Manhattan. The joint terrorism task force is working with FBI field offices to search for other suspicious packages. Authorities began looking after the first two arrived, and New York police were at CNN when that package was discovered. All of the recipients identified have been high-profile targets of President Donald Trump, leaving all eyes on what the president's message would be at a rally Wednesday night. Throughout Wednesday, many of the president's critics placed blame on his rhetoric, which they say incites violence. Obama's former top political strategist David Axelrod asked in a tweet what tone the president planned to take at a campaign rally in Mosinee, Wisconsin, Wednesday night "given the serial bombs that were delivered to several of his favorite verbal targets?" At the White House, Trump condemned "this egregious conduct" and called it "abhorrent to everything we hold dear and sacred as Americans." He promised to "get to the bottom of this" and punish the perpetrators. "The safety of the American people is my highest and absolute priority," he said. "The full weight of our government is being deployed to conduct this investigation and bring those responsible for these despicable acts to justice. We will spare no resources or expense in this effort." Arizona GOP Sen. Jeff Flake, who has been a target of Trump's ire, said the president should stop labeling the media as the "enemy" or verbally castigating political opponents. "Words matter," Flake told CNN. "If he were to take a more civil tone, it would help. … We all need to watch the rhetoric that we use. People hear them and then follow it. ...Those of us in office need to keep that in mind. The stakes are too high right now." The types of explosives and packaging will provide a wealth of information for investigators, along with possible fingerprints and DNA left behind by the bombmakers, said Anthony Roman, president of Roman & Assoc. Inc., a risk-management and commercial-investigation firm in Uniondale, N.Y. “The scientific forensic abilities today are absolutely magical,” Roman said. “The way bombs are constructed and the materials used to construct them provide a fingerprint and tell an investigative story about who the perpetrators of this crime are.” Bomb materials can be traced. Manufacturers and distributors could provide information. Video cameras where the packages were mailed or delivered could provide images of the perpetrators, as they helped do during the Boston Marathon bombing investigation. “Unlikely this will go unsolved,” Roman said. The Secret Service said packages addressed to Clinton and Obama were intercepted by law enforcement officials. Also Wednesday, a police bomb squad was sent to CNN’s offices in New York City and the newsroom was evacuated because of a suspicious package. The NYPD said included in the package was an envelope with white powder. James O’Neill, New York Police Department commissioner, said the building was swept with dogs and equipment, and no additional threats were found. "We will not be intimidated, and we will bring these perpetrators to justice," O’Neill said. New York Mayor Bill de Blasio said there were no other credible threats in the city. Meanwhile, the FBI confirmed another suspicious package went to Wasserman Schultz’ office in Sunrise, Florida, the Associated Press reported. Citing law enforcement sources, CNN reported a suspicious package also was supposed to be delivered to former U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder. It ended up being sent to the Sunrise, Florida, office of Wasserman Schultz, the former chair of the Democratic National Committee, because that was the return label on the package, CNN reported. "We will not be intimidated by this attempted act of violence," Wasserman Schultz said in a statement. "This appalling attack on our democracy must be vigorously prosecuted, and I am deeply disturbed by the way my name was used. Today, my staff and I will hug each other and our loved ones tightly, and tomorrow get back to work serving the people I was elected to represent." Administration officials said they know of no threatening packages sent to the White House. They also note that packages to the White House have to go through an off-site processing center, so a suspicious package would not reach the building. The package addressed to Clinton, the former first lady and secretary of state, was sent to her home in Westchester County, New York, and discovered late Tuesday night. The package sent to Obama was sent to Washington and intercepted Wednesday morning. The Secret Service said earlier that it has launched a criminal investigation into the incidents. "The packages were immediately identified during routine mail screening procedures as potential explosive devices and were appropriately handled as such," the Secret Service said in a statement. "The protectees did not receive the packages nor were they at risk of receiving them." Nick Merrill, a spokesman for Clinton, tweeted Wednesday morning that no suspicious package made it to her home. Clinton was campaigning for Democrats in Florida and wasn’t at the residence at the time. "It is a troubling time. It is a time of deep divisions. We have to do everything we can to bring our country together," Clinton said Wednesday while on the campaign trail. Clinton added that when she is asked how she is doing, she says: "As a person I am great. As an American I am worried."<doc-sep>The package arrived at the building in Tribeca in Lower Manhattan that houses Mr. De Niro’s production company and restaurant. It was similar to those discovered a day earlier and was also believed to contain an explosive device, officials said. On Wednesday, in the center of Manhattan, the Time Warner Center, an elegant office and shopping complex, was evacuated because of a pipe bomb sent to CNN, which has its New York offices there. It was addressed to John O. Brennan, a critic of Mr. Trump who served as Mr. Obama’s C.I.A. director. None of the devices harmed anyone, and it was not immediately clear whether any of them could have. One law enforcement official said investigators were examining the possibility that they were hoax devices that were constructed to look like bombs but would not have exploded. The F.B.I. said the devices were similar to one found Monday at the home of George Soros, the billionaire philanthropist and liberal donor, in a New York City suburb.<doc-sep>
EMBED >More News Videos Tim Fleischer reports on the potentially explosive device found at a facility near the Chappaqua home of former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton NEW YORK (WABC) -- Explosive devices believed to be pipe bombs were sent to the homes of the Clintons and the Obamas, as well as other politicians and to CNN headquarters in New York City Wednesday.Authorities say a potentially workable explosive device was found at a facility near the Chappaqua home of former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. It was discovered sometime after 1 a.m. by those who check the Clintons' mail and was addressed to the former first lady, who is currently in Florida for a fundraiser. "Many of you and many others across our country have asked after me and my family, and I'm very grateful for that," she said in Coral Gables . "We are fine, thanks to the men and women of the Secret Service who intercepted the package addressed to us long before it made its way to our home. Every day, we are grateful for their service and commitment. "Former President Clinton was at home at the time the package was found, according to a source familiar with the situation who stressed that the package was screened and discovered away from the residence and was never close to Clinton.Later Wednesday morning, an explosive device was also discovered at former President Barack Obama's home in Washington, DC. That one was addressed to the former president.Then, at 9:38 a.m., a CNN mail room employee called 911 from the Time Warner Center in Columbus Circle to report a suspicious device. The NYPD bomb squad responded and evacuated the building.The object appears to be a small pipe bomb with wires extending from it, addressed to former CIA Director John Brennan (who is a contributor for NBC). It was removed from the building at 11:37 a.m. and taken to a remote location to be detonated.The NYPD said that in addition to the explosive device, an envelope containing white powder was also discovered at the Time Warner Center. Mayor Bill de Blasio called it an act of terrorism. "What we saw here today was an effort to terrorize," he said. "This clearly is an act of terror, attempting to undermine our free press and leaders of this country through acts of violence. I want to make very clear that the people of New York City will not be intimidated, that we are going to go about our lives undeterred because the very concept of terrorism to change us, and we will not allow that to happen. "A pipe bomb was also sent to former Attorney General Eric Holder, but the package never made it to its destination due to a delivery error and was bounced back to the return address. That address was listed as Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz's office in Sunrise, Florida, which was briefly evacuated.A law enforcement official says the pipe bombs were packed with powder and shards of glass. The official says the devices were made from PVC pipe that was about six inches long and covered with black tape.Authorities say the devices are all consistent with the one found earlier this week in the mailbox of philanthropist and billionaire George Soros , who also lives n Westchester County. There were no explosions and no reports of any injuries.The FBI said all the packages are being analyzed at the bureau's lab in Virginia. The agency said each package had a return address of "DEBBIE WASSERMAN SHULTZ," a misspelling of the Florida congresswoman's name, and had printed address labels and six stamps.All of the bombs and packages were similar, with American flag stamps on the envelopes and the bombs wired to a digital clock with a battery to spark an explosion.The White House quickly condemned the attacks aimed at Democrats and perceived foes of the administration. "Acts or threats of political violence have no place in the United States," President Donald Trump said. "This egregious conduct is abhorrent. "Trump said he received a briefing from federal officials on what he called "despicable acts." He promised "a major federal investigation" and urged the nation to unify. "We're extremely angry, upset, unhappy about what we witnessed this morning and we will get to the bottom of it," he said. "That's a very bipartisan statement. "Contrary to prior reports, the Secret Service confirms no suspicious package was sent to the White House.