Explosive devices sent in the mail to Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, and CNN's New York office

• Several explosives have been sent by mail to high-ranking Democrats and Trump critics since Monday, including former President Barack Obama and 2016 presidential candidate Hillary Clinton.
• Bomb squads are still investigating a bomb scare at the Sunrise, Florida, office of Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, and a suspicious package intercepted before it could reach Rep. Maxine Waters.
• New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio called the incidents part of an "act of terror."

Multiple pipe bombs were sent in the mail to high-ranking Democrats and critics of President Donald Trump on Tuesday and Wednesday, including former President Barack Obama and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

The Secret Service on Wednesday said it intercepted two explosive devices addressed to the residences of Clinton and Obama. The situation escalated further when CNN evacuated its New York bureau when another explosive was found in their building's mail room.

Several more incidents followed around the US, including at the offices of Democratic Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, the former chair of the Democratic National Committee; California Democratic Rep. Maxine Waters; California Democratic Sen. Kamala Harris; and New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo.

Early reports indicating a similar package was sent to the White House were later refuted by the Secret Service.

"What we saw here today was an effort to terrorize," New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said at an afternoon press conference. "This clearly is an act of terror, attempting to undermine our free press and the leaders of this country through acts of violence."

From New York to Florida

The multiple bomb scares come two days after a similar device was dropped off in the mailbox outside billionaire Democratic donor George Soros' home in Katonah, New York. The liberal philanthropist has been the target of several right-wing conspiracy theories.

Katonah is less than 10 miles from Chappaqua, where Bill and Hillary Clinton have their main residence. Hillary was in Florida campaigning Wednesday, but her husband was home, according to a source who spoke with the Associated Press.

A package addressed to Obama's residence in Washington, DC, was intercepted early Wednesday morning.

"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."

The statement added: "The Secret Service has initiated a full scope criminal investigation that will leverage all available federal, state, and local resources to determine the source of the packages and identify those responsible."

The package discovered at CNN was dropped off by a courier mid-morning and was addressed to John Brennan, who was CIA director under President Obama and who now works as an analyst for MSNBC. Brennan is also a frequent guest on several other news networks, including CNN.

NYPD Commissioner James P. O'Neill said at an afternoon press conference that an envelope with a white powder was also found with the CNN device and is being investigated as well.

A common theme

According to an FBI press release, the packages shared several details, including that they were all sent in manila envelopes with bubble-wrap interior and all were affixed with computer-printed labels and six Forever stamps.

The packages also had Schultz, the Democratic congresswoman, listed as the sender.

That's why there was a bomb scare at Schultz's Sunrise, Florida, offices Wednesday morning, when another package, addressed to President Obama's attorney general, Eric Holder, was returned to sender because of an incorrect address.

Another suspicious package, intended for California Democratic Rep. Maxine Waters, was intercepted at a Congressional sorting facility in Capitol Heights, Maryland, but that incident has not been connected to the others yet by the FBI.

California Sen. Kamala Harris' San Diego offices were evacuated because of several suspicious packages, but they turned out to be safe. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said that he received a suspicious package at his Manhattan offices, but that was cleared as well.

At a Wednesday-afternoon press conference, an FBI official said the devices discovered so far appear to be pipe bombs.

The FBI said that the devices meant for Soros, Clinton, Obama, Brennan and Holder were being sent to their Quantico lab for analysis.

"This investigation is of the highest priority for the FBI. We have committed the full strength of the FBI’s resources and, together with our partners on our Joint Terrorism Task Forces, we will continue to work to identify and arrest whoever is responsible for sending these packages," said FBI Director Christopher Wray.

"We ask anyone who may have information to contact the FBI. Do not hesitate to call; no piece of information is too small to help us in this investigation."

The FBI press release warns that there may be additional packages.

"The FBI advises the public to remain vigilant and not touch, move or handle any suspicious or unknown packages," the warning reads.

White House rebuke

In a statement Wednesday morning, White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders called the bomb plantings "despicable."

"We condemn the attempted violent attacks recently made against President Obama, President Clinton, Secretary Clinton, and other public figures," Sanders said. "These terrorizing acts are despicable, and anyone responsible will be help 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."

President Trump was relatively late to comment on the case. His first reference to the escalating situation was a retweet of Vice President Mike Pence's statement on the matter, adding "I wholeheartedly agree!"

The president has come under fire in recent days for encouraging attacks on the press.

During a 2 p.m. event about the opioid crisis, Trump spoke momentarily about the bomb scares, saying "we have to unify."

"We have to come together and send one very clear, strong, unmistakable message that acts or threats of political violence of any kind have no place in the United States of America," he said.

First lady Melania Trump also weighed in with a statement of her own.

"We cannot tolerate those cowardly attacks and I strongly condemn all who choose violence," Mrs. Trump said at the press conference.

'It is a troubling time'

Following the discovery of the bomb at CNN, De Blasio issued a thinly veiled swipe at Trump.

"To all public officials of all partisan affiliations: Don't encourage violence. Don't encourage hatred. Don't encourage attacks on the media. You can disagree, but you have to show respect for people and air your disagreements peacefully," he said.

Wednesday afternoon, Hillary Clinton spoke at an event in Florida and addressed the mail bombs, while also saying how "grateful" she is every day for the protection of the Secret Service.

"We are fine because of the men and women of the Secret Service who intercepted the package long before it made its way to our home," she said.

Clinton added: "But it is a troubling time, isn't it? And it's a time of deep divisions and we have to do everything we can to bring our country together. We also have to elect candidates who will try to do the same."

No one has claimed responsibility for any of the devices.

Read Business Insider's full coverage of the suspicious packages:

• CNN evacuates New York City office amid reports of suspicious package
• The suspicious package sent to CNN's New York office was reportedly addressed to former CIA Director John Brennan
• White House and Donald Trump Jr. condemn explosive devices sent to Obamas, Clintons
• Explosive device found in mailbox near billionaire George Soros' home
• Hillary Clinton addresses attempted attack, says 'as an American I am worried'
• Trump condemns 'political violence' after pipe bombs sent to prominent Democrats, says 'we have to unify'
• Prominent conservative activists and talking heads are promoting a conspiracy that Democrats sent explosive devices to Clinton, Obama, Soros
• 'The inevitable consequence of Trump's incitement': Democrats accuse Trump of helping provoke attempted violence against Clintons, Obama, and Soros
• 'This clearly was an act of terror': NYPD safely removes 'live explosive device' from CNN's New York office after similar devices sent to Clinton, Obama homes

Anyone with information on the packages is being asked to call the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI or go to tips.fbi.gov.

SEE ALSO: CNN evacuates New York City office amid reports of suspicious package after explosive devices sent to Clinton, Obama homes

DON'T MISS: Explosive device found in mailbox near billionaire George Soros' home

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