US: Potential explosive devices sent to homes of Obama, Hillary Clinton; CNN bureau evacuated

US news network CNN has reportedly evacuated its New York bureau which is located in the Time Warner Center, over 'a suspicious package'similar to those found in homes of Obama and Clinton.

Images: PTI

New Delhi: The United States on Wednesday reeled in shock over detection of a series of explosives targeting three high profile places. Two potential explosives were addressed to the homes of former US President Barack Obama and former First Lady Hillary Clinton respectively and a third one is reportedly located at the Time Warner Center. The ones sent to Obama and Clinton have been intercepted and detonated successfully, while police officials are still conducting searches at the Time Warner Center, reports said. US news network CNN said that it has evacuated its New York bureau which is located in the Time Warner Center, over 'a suspicious package'similar to those found in homes of Obama and Clinton.

A New York Bomb Squad unit exits the Time Warner Building on October 24, 2018 where a suspected explosive device was found in the building after it was delivered to CNN's New York bureau. (Photo by TIMOTHY A. CLARY / AFP)

  The US Secret Service said in a statement that late Tuesday the agency recovered a single package addressed to Former First Lady Hillary Clinton in Westchester County, New York, while the second package addressed to the residence of Former President Barack Obama was intercepted in Washington DC. The packages were immediately identified during routine mail screening procedures as potential explosive devices and were appropriately handled as such. Both packages were intercepted prior to being delivered to their intended location, the statement read. Following the interception, the Secret Service has initiated a full scope criminal investigation to determine the source of the packages and identify those responsible. The New York police have reportedly sent officers and bomb disposal squads to the Time Warner Center, where the CNN bureau is located, to investigate reports of a suspicious package. The device was reportedly discovered in the mailroom of the Time Warner Center. However, as per initial reports, the explosive device was found in the vicinity of Hillary Clinton’s residence in Chappaqua, New York, The Clintons have lived in Chappaqua, about 48 km north of New York City, since former President Clinton left office in 2001. Days ago in a similar event, a bomb was reportedly found in a mailbox at the suburban New York home of George Soros, the liberal billionaire philanthropist who has been denounced by US President Donald Trump. "We condemn the attempted violent attacks recently made against President Obama, President Clinton, Secretary Clinton, and other public figures," White House press secretary Sarah Sanders said in a statement.