Another potential bomb found: What we know now about the 12 suspicious packages

Ashley May USA TODAY

Published 9:26 AM EDT Oct 26, 2018

After 12 potential explosive devices were mailed to prominent Democrats, law enforcement authorities Friday continue to search post offices after warning the public that more packages could still be at large. 

 "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."

Friday morning, The New York Police Department closed a Manhattan intersection to traffic and pedestrians because of another possible explosive package found at a postal facility. The FBI confirmed it was an eleventh package, "similar in appearance to the others," addressed to Sen. Cory Booker, a Democratic from from New Jersey. 

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. 

What do we know about package 11?

The FBI confirmed they had found a suspicious package "similar in appearance to the others" that was addressed to Democrat Sen. Cory Booker.

What happened in New York this morning? 

The New York Police Department closed a Manhattan intersection to traffic and pedestrians near W. 52nd Street between 8th and 9th Avenues on Friday morning to handle a suspicious package.

Former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper was the target of the 12th device recovered in Manhattan, a person familiar with the matter said Friday

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

How many packages so far?

At least 12 suspected bombs were addressed to various locations and intercepted since Monday.

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
• Former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper

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 

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