US authorities have detained a man in connection with the mail bombs scare that has widened to 12 suspicious packages, officials said.
Three law enforcement officials identified the man as Cesar Sayoc, 56, of Aventura, Florida.
Video from television news helicopters showed federal agents and police examining a white van in the car park of a business in Plantation, Florida. The van had several stickers on the windows, including American flags.
Earlier yesterday, authorities said suspicious packages addressed to New Jersey senator Cory Booker and former National Intelligence director James Clapper – both similar to those containing pipe bombs sent to other prominent critics of President Donald Trump – had been intercepted.
The discoveries further spurred a coast-to-coast investigation as officials scramble to locate a culprit and possible motive amid questions about whether new packages were being sent or were simply surfacing after a period in the mail system.
The devices have targeted well-known Democrats including former president Barack Obama, ex-vice president Joe Biden, Hillary Clinton and former attorney general Eric Holder.
Attorney general Jeff Sessions said the Justice Department was dedicating every available resource to the investigation, “and I can tell you this: we will find the person or persons responsible. We will bring them to justice”.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here