Latest updates:
- At least five suspicious packages were sent to prominent U.S. addresses over the past couple days, including the CNN NY Bureau, and the residences of Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton
- Another package addressed to Democrat Maxine Waters was intercepted by Capitol Hill police
- FBI officials say white powder was found in the package sent to CNN, along with the suspected pipe bomb
- Suspicious package found at Democrat Deborah Wasserman Schultz’s office was addressed to former attorney general Eric Holder, reports say
- White House officials have condemned the incidents
A “major federal investigation” is looking into the rash of live explosive devices sent to former U.S. secretary of state Hillary Clinton in Chappaqua, N.Y., former president Barack Obama and other prominent Democratic figures, U.S. President Donald Trump said Wednesday.
The Time Warner Center in New York, which houses CNN’s New York bureau, was evacuated for much of the day after a suspicious package was found around 9 a.m. Wednesday morning. The office reopened around 3:30 p.m.
READ MORE: Pipe bombs sent to prominent U.S. addresses — what we know so far
FBI officials said the package sent to CNN contained “what appeared to be a pipe bomb” along with an unidentified white powder at a news conference Wednesday afternoon.
WATCH: U.S. President Trump on Wednesday night spoke out against the bombs that were sent to former presidents Obama and Clinton as well as other high ranking current and former government officials.
A photo of the device published to the CNN website, shows a small tube wrapped in electrical tape.
WATCH: `Said by Donald who?”: John Brennan takes aim at Trump after bomb attempts
A fourth package was found at the Florida office of Democratic Rep. Deborah Wasserman Schultz. The four packages came after officials detonated a pipe bomb sent to billionaire philanthropist George Soros earlier in the week.
Later Wednesday afternoon, another suspicious package – this one addressed to Democratic Congresswoman Maxine Waters – was intercepted by Capitol Hill police.
“I have been informed by U.S. Capital Police that my Washington DC office was the target of a suspicious package that has been referred to the FBI,” a statement from Waters read.
“I unequivocally condemn any and all acts of violence and terror.”
There were no explosions and no reports of injuries.
Trump said the U.S. “will spare no resources or expenses on this effort” to find the perpetrator and he or she will be brought to the full extent of justice.
WATCH: Officials address suspicious packages at press conference
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NYPD confirms ‘live explosive’ found outside CNN building in New York -
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NYC Mayor blasts clear ‘act of terror’ after bomb found at CNN building -
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Cuomo confirms active investigation at Clinton, Obama homes along with CNN building -
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Cuomo, De Blasio call for civility without mentioning Donald Trump -
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Andrew Cuomo says an explosive device was sent to his office -
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FBI confirms device left outside CNN building was a pipe bomb -
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Marco Rubio reacts after explosives mailed to Florida congresswoman, Hilary Clinton, Barack Obama and CNN -
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Melania Trump: ‘We cannot tolerate these cowardly attacks’
The White House condemned the incidents in a statement, calling them “terrorizing acts” and saying they will be investigated.
“These terrorizing acts are despicable, and anyone responsible will be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law,” White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said. “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.”
New York Mayor Bill de Blaisio said there was no information on other threats “at this time” but police have increased security in the city as a precaution.
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“This was an act of terror attempting to undermine the free press and leaders of this country through acts of violence,” de Blaisio said, while asking people to continue to live their daily lives.
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said he also received a suspicious package, but it was unclear whether there were explosives in the package.
The device found near the home of Clinton and her husband, former President Bill Clinton, was found Tuesday night and described as an IED, according to NY1. The New York Times reports a technician who screens the couple’s mail found the bomb.
The FBI, Secret Service and New Castle Police Department are investigating the incident. The FBI confirmed they are investigating in a statement on Twitter.
“We are fine thanks to the men and women of the secret service who intercepted the package,” Hillary Clinton said of the incident at a lunchtime fundraiser for Florida Democrat Donna Shalala. Bill was reportedly home at the time.
“Every day we are grateful for their service and commitment and obviously never more than today.”
“It’s a time of deep divisions, we need to do everything we can to bring our country together,” Clinton said, adding that the U.S. needs to elect candidates who embody that.
A similar device sent to Obama was intercepted by agents in Washington D.C., the Secret Service confirmed.
“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.”
CNN reported that the suspicious package mailed to the Time Warner building and was found in the mail room. The incident was reported to the NYPD at 9:53 a.m. ET. It was removed from the building around 11:38.
In a statement to employees, CNN cheif Jeff Zucker said the building was evacuated in “an abundance of caution, as a result of a suspicious package having been received in the mailroom.”
The cable news network reported that package was addressed to former CIA director John Brennan, who has been a guest on CNN as a contributor but does not work for CNN, and that there were wires in the package.
An anonymous official told the Associated Press one of the packages had the return address of Rep. Deborah Wasserman Schultz, an ironic reference to the former chairwoman of the Democratic National Committee.
Her office was also evacuated after receiving a suspicious package Wednesday, police confirmed and the bomb squad was on scene.
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The package was addressed to former attorney general Eric Holder, but had the wrong address and was therefore returned to the sender address, NBC News and CNN reported.
The potential bombs were found two days after an explosive device was found in the mailbox at a home owned by George Soros, the liberal billionaire philanthropist who has been denounced by U.S. President Donald Trump.
Soros was not home at the time and officials detonated that device safely.
A law enforcement official told the New York Times the device found near the Clinton home was similar to the one found near Soros’ home.
Laura Silber, a spokeswoman for Soros’ Open Society Foundations, blamed the country’s toxic political environment for the incident on Tuesday.
“The hateful rhetoric that dominates politics in the U.S. and in so many countries around the world breeds extremism and violence,” Silber said in a statement. “In this climate of fear, falsehoods and rising authoritarianism, just voicing your views can draw death threats.”
WATCH: Crowd cheers as Trump asks if they want investigation of Hillary Clinton (Oct. 22)
In recent days and weeks, Soros has been accused, with no given proof, of being the hidden hand behind some of the opposition to Brett Kavanaugh’s Supreme Court nomination and helping to create the caravan of Central Americans making their way toward the U.S.
Cuomo also said the pattern appeared to be politically motivated, saying “we are at a boiling point.”
De Blaisio also condemned the tone of recent political rhetoric saying “the way to stop that is to turn down the temperature,” adding that change has “to come from the top.”
“I’ll just say this to all public officials of all partisan affiliations: don’t encourage violence, don’t encourage hatred, don’t encourage attacks on the media,” he said.
WATCH: Cuomo, De Blasio call for civility without mentioning Donald Trump
While De Blaisio didn’t name names, President Trump has appeared to condone violence against the media by praising Rep. Greg Gianforte of Montana for body slamming a reporter during his campaign last May.
Trump said: “Any guy who can do a body slam, he’s my guy,” while mimicking the physical motion of a body slam.
Trump himself addressed the political rhetoric Wednesday at the White House saying: “We have to unify, we have to come together.”
“Acts or threats of political violence of any kind have no place in the United States of America,” he continued.
Prominent Republicans also condemned the incidents, saying while political disagreements are healthy, they should remain civil.
“Reports of bombs sent to the homes of Obama, Clinton, and Soros are deeply, deeply disturbing,” Ted Cruz wrote on Twitter. “America is better than this. Political disagreements are fine, even healthy, but we should always be civil and respect each other’s humanity.”
“Those behind such reprehensible acts must be brought to justice,” Speaker of the House of Representatives Paul Ryan said on Twitter. “We cannot tolerate any attempt to terrorize public figures. I am grateful to the @SecretService, Capitol Police, and all law enforcement who guard against these threats.”
*With files from the Associated Press and Reuters
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