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| Florida man charged with sending 13 suspected pipe bombs to Trump critics | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| An avowed Donald Trump supporter in southern Florida has been charged with sending 13 suspected pipe bombs to critics of the president including Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton. | |
| Cesar Sayoc was arrested at an auto parts shop in the city of Plantation, according to US officials. Federal agents at the location removed a van covered in political stickers celebrating Republicans and denouncing the president’s opponents. | Cesar Sayoc was arrested at an auto parts shop in the city of Plantation, according to US officials. Federal agents at the location removed a van covered in political stickers celebrating Republicans and denouncing the president’s opponents. |
| Sayoc, 56, has an address in nearby Aventura and an extensive arrest record. According to his social media accounts, he works as a booking agent for a live events company and is a former wrestler and cage fighter. | Sayoc, 56, has an address in nearby Aventura and an extensive arrest record. According to his social media accounts, he works as a booking agent for a live events company and is a former wrestler and cage fighter. |
| Jeff Sessions, the attorney general, said at a press conference that Sayoc had been charged with five federal offences, including threats against former presidents, assaulting current and former federal officers, and illegal mailing of explosives. | |
| “Let this be a lesson to anyone, regardless of their political beliefs, that we will bring the full force of law against anyone who attempts to use threats, intimidation and outright violence to further an agenda,” Sessions said. | |
| Christopher Wray, the director of the FBI, said Sayoc had been linked by a fingerprint to a package sent to congresswoman Maxine Waters of California. “These are not hoax devices,” Wray said. | |
| Speaking at the White House, Trump praised an “incredible job” done by investigators and promised to punish the person responsible for the bombings. “These terrorising acts are despicable and have no place in our country,” he said, as supporters wearing red Trump campaign baseball caps cheered. | Speaking at the White House, Trump praised an “incredible job” done by investigators and promised to punish the person responsible for the bombings. “These terrorising acts are despicable and have no place in our country,” he said, as supporters wearing red Trump campaign baseball caps cheered. |
| Three more suspicious packages, addressed to a Democratic senator, a liberal donor and the country’s former intelligence chief, were confirmed by authorities on Friday. They brought the number of suspect packages sent to prominent critics of Trump to 13. None exploded before being found and no injuries were reported. | |
| The newest packages found on Friday were sent to Senator Cory Booker of New Jersey, the billionaire Tom Steyer, and James Clapper, the former director of national intelligence. Investigators were also looking into another package at a location linked to Senator Kamala Harris of California. | |
| Shortly before the arrest, Trump complained that the series of attempted bombings was damaging his party’s prospects for next month’s midterm elections. He also appeared to stoke conspiracy theories about the authenticity of the explosives. | Shortly before the arrest, Trump complained that the series of attempted bombings was damaging his party’s prospects for next month’s midterm elections. He also appeared to stoke conspiracy theories about the authenticity of the explosives. |
| “Republicans are doing so well in early voting, and at the polls, and now this ‘Bomb’ stuff happens and the momentum greatly slows - news not talking politics. Very unfortunate, what is going on. Republicans, go out and vote!”, Trump said. | “Republicans are doing so well in early voting, and at the polls, and now this ‘Bomb’ stuff happens and the momentum greatly slows - news not talking politics. Very unfortunate, what is going on. Republicans, go out and vote!”, Trump said. |
| The president had also complained in a 3am tweet that he was being unfairly blamed for the attempted bombings. | The president had also complained in a 3am tweet that he was being unfairly blamed for the attempted bombings. |
| Sayoc was born in Brooklyn, New York, and is a registered Republican, according to public records. His social media accounts contain photographs and video clips in which he is wearing Trump’s signature red baseball cap with the slogan “Make America Great Again”. | Sayoc was born in Brooklyn, New York, and is a registered Republican, according to public records. His social media accounts contain photographs and video clips in which he is wearing Trump’s signature red baseball cap with the slogan “Make America Great Again”. |
| The 56-year-old has also posted material online denigrating Muslims and raising popular rightwing conspiracy theories, including the false claim that Clinton killed the former deputy White House counsel Vince Foster. | The 56-year-old has also posted material online denigrating Muslims and raising popular rightwing conspiracy theories, including the false claim that Clinton killed the former deputy White House counsel Vince Foster. |
| He threatened CNN in a tweet in August. Rochelle Ritchie, a former aide to Democratic politicians, said on Friday that she reported Sayoc to Twitter earlier this year after he warned her: “Hug your loved ones real close every time you leave you home.” Twitter responded to Ritchie that Sayoc had not violated its rules. | He threatened CNN in a tweet in August. Rochelle Ritchie, a former aide to Democratic politicians, said on Friday that she reported Sayoc to Twitter earlier this year after he warned her: “Hug your loved ones real close every time you leave you home.” Twitter responded to Ritchie that Sayoc had not violated its rules. |
| Sayoc’s arrest records stretch back more than 25 years and include charges for theft, battery, domestic violence and other alleged offences. In August 2002 he was found guilty of threatening to throw a bomb during a conversation with a utilities worker. | Sayoc’s arrest records stretch back more than 25 years and include charges for theft, battery, domestic violence and other alleged offences. In August 2002 he was found guilty of threatening to throw a bomb during a conversation with a utilities worker. |
| Daniel Lurvey, an attorney who represented Sayoc in criminal cases, said Sayoc was “normal and courteous” and did not display political anger. “I think it’s a recent phenomenon that’s happening to a lot of people who have feelings under the surface that are brought out by this divisive political climate,” said Lurvey. | Daniel Lurvey, an attorney who represented Sayoc in criminal cases, said Sayoc was “normal and courteous” and did not display political anger. “I think it’s a recent phenomenon that’s happening to a lot of people who have feelings under the surface that are brought out by this divisive political climate,” said Lurvey. |
| On Friday afternoon, police and security guards were blocking off access to an upmarket 27-story condominium block in Aventura, Florida, where Sayoc has been listed as a resident. | |
| Neighbours said they were surprised to hear that the man arrested lived in their community. But one, Dan Ochsenschlagen, said there had been friction on the condominium board between Sayoc’s mother, who is the registered owner of the apartment, and other board members. | |
| Wearing an army veteran’s cap, Ochsenschlagen said Sayoc’s mother, who often made political statements, was president of the board for 17 years until she was voted out last December. | |
| “Some of the things that were going on were very questionable,” Ochsenschlagen said. He said he had reported what he called “financial irregularities” to police in Miami, claims the Guardian was not immediately able to verify. | |
| Authorities hoped the arrest would end the discoveries of matching envelopes, containing what appeared to be pipes packed with explosives and connected to wires, across the US over the past week. | Authorities hoped the arrest would end the discoveries of matching envelopes, containing what appeared to be pipes packed with explosives and connected to wires, across the US over the past week. |
| The first was discovered on Monday in a mailbox at the New York home of George Soros, a wealthy liberal donor. It was followed by similar packages intercepted by the Secret Service that were addressed to the homes of Obama, the former president, and Clinton, the former secretary of state. | The first was discovered on Monday in a mailbox at the New York home of George Soros, a wealthy liberal donor. It was followed by similar packages intercepted by the Secret Service that were addressed to the homes of Obama, the former president, and Clinton, the former secretary of state. |
| Over the following days packages were found addressed to the former vice-president Joe Biden, the former attorney general Eric Holder, the former CIA director John Brennan, the Democratic congresswoman Maxine Waters and the actor Robert De Niro. All are high-profile opponents of Trump. | Over the following days packages were found addressed to the former vice-president Joe Biden, the former attorney general Eric Holder, the former CIA director John Brennan, the Democratic congresswoman Maxine Waters and the actor Robert De Niro. All are high-profile opponents of Trump. |
| The package addressed to Booker was intercepted in Florida, while the one for Clapper was discovered on Friday morning at a post office in the Hell’s Kitchen section of Manhattan. It was addressed to Clapper at the offices of CNN, a few blocks away, where he is employed as an analyst. | The package addressed to Booker was intercepted in Florida, while the one for Clapper was discovered on Friday morning at a post office in the Hell’s Kitchen section of Manhattan. It was addressed to Clapper at the offices of CNN, a few blocks away, where he is employed as an analyst. |
| Anyone who has in any way been a public critic of President Trump needs to be on extra alert and take some precautions | Anyone who has in any way been a public critic of President Trump needs to be on extra alert and take some precautions |
| CNN’s Manhattan offices were evacuated on Wednesday when another suspected pipe bomb was sent there, meant for former CIA director John Brennan. Both former intelligence officials have been outspoken critics of Trump’s actions in office. | CNN’s Manhattan offices were evacuated on Wednesday when another suspected pipe bomb was sent there, meant for former CIA director John Brennan. Both former intelligence officials have been outspoken critics of Trump’s actions in office. |
| Clapper on Friday said the packages were part of campaign of “domestic terrorism” intended to sow fear and intimidate people. | Clapper on Friday said the packages were part of campaign of “domestic terrorism” intended to sow fear and intimidate people. |
| “This is not going to silence the administration’s critics,” Clapper told CNN. “But anyone who has in any way been a public critic of President Trump needs to be on extra alert and take some precautions particularly with respect to mail.” | “This is not going to silence the administration’s critics,” Clapper told CNN. “But anyone who has in any way been a public critic of President Trump needs to be on extra alert and take some precautions particularly with respect to mail.” |
| Clapper praised the FBI for its work on the investigation and for persevering in the face of abuse from the president. Trump has accused the FBI of being involved in a “deep state” conspiracy to undermine him and of botching an inquiry into private email server used by Hillary Clinton. “Will the FBI ever recover its once stellar reputation?” Trump asked in a tweet in August. | Clapper praised the FBI for its work on the investigation and for persevering in the face of abuse from the president. Trump has accused the FBI of being involved in a “deep state” conspiracy to undermine him and of botching an inquiry into private email server used by Hillary Clinton. “Will the FBI ever recover its once stellar reputation?” Trump asked in a tweet in August. |
| The governor of New York, Andrew Cuomo, said Trump’s reaction to the attempted attacks was “wholly inappropriate” and showed he had “never fully made the transition” to being presidential. “Am I hopeful that the zebra changes his or her stripes today? No,” Cuomo said on CNN. | The governor of New York, Andrew Cuomo, said Trump’s reaction to the attempted attacks was “wholly inappropriate” and showed he had “never fully made the transition” to being presidential. “Am I hopeful that the zebra changes his or her stripes today? No,” Cuomo said on CNN. |
| Supporters of Trump speculated without evidence that the devices were not viable and could not have harmed people. But on Friday, the governor of New York, Andrew Cuomo. “No one can say that they were fake bombs,” said Cuomo. “These were dangerous devices that could explode.” | Supporters of Trump speculated without evidence that the devices were not viable and could not have harmed people. But on Friday, the governor of New York, Andrew Cuomo. “No one can say that they were fake bombs,” said Cuomo. “These were dangerous devices that could explode.” |
| A suspected pipe bomb was also discovered at the offices of the De Niro in lower Manhattan on Thursday. The actor received a standing ovation at the Tony awards in New York in June for a speech criticising the president. | A suspected pipe bomb was also discovered at the offices of the De Niro in lower Manhattan on Thursday. The actor received a standing ovation at the Tony awards in New York in June for a speech criticising the president. |
| In his first remarks on the incident, De Niro said in a statement: “I thank God no one’s been hurt, and I thank the brave and resourceful security and law enforcement people for protecting us. There’s something more powerful than bombs, and that’s your vote. People must vote!” | In his first remarks on the incident, De Niro said in a statement: “I thank God no one’s been hurt, and I thank the brave and resourceful security and law enforcement people for protecting us. There’s something more powerful than bombs, and that’s your vote. People must vote!” |
| US pipe bomb packages | US pipe bomb packages |
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