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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/live/2018/oct/25/pipe-bombs-suspicous-packages-robert-de-niro-latest-live-updates-explosive-devices
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| Pipe bombs latest: authorities give update on investigation – live | Pipe bombs latest: authorities give update on investigation – live |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Law enforcement officials in these press conferences try not to give away too much, but here’s some telling points from New York Police Department commissioner James O’Neill. | |
| He makes a point of saying that investigators do not believe the bombs are hoaxes. | |
| He expresses high praise for all the law enforcement bodies involved in the investigation. | |
| And, without any prompting, he praises the media for showing images of the suspect packages, which prompted the retired detective to call the emergency services in the pre-dawn hours this morning because the pictures he was seeing on his TV resembled a package he had intercepted on its way to De Niro. | |
| “I would like to thank him for doing his job correctly,” O’Neill says and, then, directed at the gathered members of the press - aka the mainstream media - he notes: “Thank you for getting it [the images] out there.” | |
| The word Trump is never mentioned. But the president has made great sport over mocking the federal intelligence agencies and the media. | |
| NYPD’s O’Neill, responding to press questions: “I’m not going to get into intent”, when asked what he thinks is the motivation of the perpetrator(s) of this campaign. | |
| He describes the package found on Thursday as a “suspected explosive device”. | |
| But emphasizes: “We are not treating these as hoax devices.” | |
| Bill de Blasio is up now, saying: “This is absolutely terrorism. Using violence to make a political impact.” But he adds, in characteristic upbeat tone adopted by civic leaders in time’s of tension such as these: “The people in New York City are as tough as it gets.” | Bill de Blasio is up now, saying: “This is absolutely terrorism. Using violence to make a political impact.” But he adds, in characteristic upbeat tone adopted by civic leaders in time’s of tension such as these: “The people in New York City are as tough as it gets.” |
| This press conference is taking a typical course. Tiny fragments of new information and a lot of question dodging, as an investigation of this kind proceeds with extreme caution in terms of what the public is told. | This press conference is taking a typical course. Tiny fragments of new information and a lot of question dodging, as an investigation of this kind proceeds with extreme caution in terms of what the public is told. |
| NYPD’s Miller admits the authorities “don’t know” if other bombs are out there, perhaps en route to other targets. | NYPD’s Miller admits the authorities “don’t know” if other bombs are out there, perhaps en route to other targets. |
| FBI assistant director William Sweeney refuses to confirm earlier reports that the bombs originated in Florida. He doesn’t deny it, but points out: “We are not going to get into where the packages originated.” | FBI assistant director William Sweeney refuses to confirm earlier reports that the bombs originated in Florida. He doesn’t deny it, but points out: “We are not going to get into where the packages originated.” |
| The FBI has warned the public, across the US, that “any device found should be considered dangerous.” Officials are moving to press Q & A now. | The FBI has warned the public, across the US, that “any device found should be considered dangerous.” Officials are moving to press Q & A now. |
| John Miller, the NYPD’s deputy commissioner of intelligence and counter terrorism, says that a retired police officer found the package in lower Manhattan addressed to Robert De Niro. | |
| “A retired NYPD detective who was awake and watching the news saw an image of one of these devices and it occurred to him that it resembled a package he had screened that had been sent to Robert De Niro’s offices on Greenwich Street,” Miller said. The retired officer alerted the authorities. | |
| Sweeney is reiterating that the 10 bombs are being analyzed at Quantico, the FBI’s forensics lab in Virginia. He’s also confirmed that white powder in some of the devices, including the one delivered to the CNN offices, does not constitute a biological threat. | Sweeney is reiterating that the 10 bombs are being analyzed at Quantico, the FBI’s forensics lab in Virginia. He’s also confirmed that white powder in some of the devices, including the one delivered to the CNN offices, does not constitute a biological threat. |
| We’ll bring you the rest of Maxine Waters’s statement shortly, but will focus on this press conference for now, including, hopefully a Q & A with journalists after the officials’ statements. | We’ll bring you the rest of Maxine Waters’s statement shortly, but will focus on this press conference for now, including, hopefully a Q & A with journalists after the officials’ statements. |
| William Sweeney, FBI assistant director, has now taken the podium, following the brief remarks from the mayor. He’s mainly doing the usual opener - thanking all his law enforcement partners, both federal and local. | William Sweeney, FBI assistant director, has now taken the podium, following the brief remarks from the mayor. He’s mainly doing the usual opener - thanking all his law enforcement partners, both federal and local. |
| De Blasio continues: “People in this city are not being thrown off their game,” he says. But he acknowledges: “There is a lot of concern, there is a lot of fear.” | De Blasio continues: “People in this city are not being thrown off their game,” he says. But he acknowledges: “There is a lot of concern, there is a lot of fear.” |
| New York city major Bill de Blasio takes the podium. He warns New Yorkers to be ready to see an increased police presence - in a city that’s already policed by almost 40,000 cops. | New York city major Bill de Blasio takes the podium. He warns New Yorkers to be ready to see an increased police presence - in a city that’s already policed by almost 40,000 cops. |
| O’Neill promises that the perpetrator of the bombing campaign will be apprehended, by law enforcement agencies that are “second to none.” | O’Neill promises that the perpetrator of the bombing campaign will be apprehended, by law enforcement agencies that are “second to none.” |
| NYPD police commissioner James O’Neill opens by assuring all eight million New York City residents “you are safe”. He then follows with a fresh plea for any information from the public. | NYPD police commissioner James O’Neill opens by assuring all eight million New York City residents “you are safe”. He then follows with a fresh plea for any information from the public. |