US: Time Warner Center (NYC) reopened after explosives removed Oct. 24 /update 2

Event

The Time Warner Center (New York City) has been reopened as of the afternoon (local time) of Wednesday, October 24, following an earlier mandatory evacuation and security sweep. The building, which is home to CNN, was evacuated after a suspicious package containing an explosive device and suspicious white powder was discovered on site. The explosive device, addressed to former CIA Director John Brennan, was reportedly similar to other devices intercepted by police on Wednesday which targeted prominent public officials.

All other known suspicious packages addressed to public officials have been intercepted, resulting in no casualties. A heightened security presence and localized traffic disruptions are to be expected near affected sites over the coming hours. Similar incidents are possible in the coming hours and days.

Context

Several suspected explosive devices mailed or otherwise sent to multiple prominent American public officials were intercepted by police on October 24. The devices were sent to the residence of former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton (Chappaqua, New York state), the office of former President Barack Obama (Washington, DC), former US Attorney General Eric Holder (received at the office of Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz [Sunrise, Florida]), former CIA Director John Brennan (received at Time Warner Center, New York City), and to Congresswoman Maxine Waters (received at a congressional mail screening center in Capitol Heights [Maryland]). An envelope containing a suspicious white powder was also reportedly intercepted on Wednesday at the Time Warner Center (New York City), which was evacuated. Earlier reports on Wednesday claimed that a suspicious package had been addressed to the White House; such reports have since been rescinded by the US Secret Service. Additional suspicious packages discovered at Senator Kamala Harris' office in San Diego (California) and the office of New York Governor Andrew Cuomo in Manhattan (New York City), were determined to be unrelated to the earlier incidents and were not explosive devices.

This series of attempted bombings follows a similar incident in which a suspicious device was found in a mailbox at the home of billionaire George Soros in Katonah (New York state) on October 22. While authorities have not named any suspects or motive as of Wednesday afternoon, the packages have apparently mostly targeted figures critical of President Donald Trump, many of whom are Democratic Party officials, donors, or have worked in a Democratic administration.

Advice

Individuals in the affected areas are advised to monitor developments to the situation, report all suspicious objects and behavior to the police, and adhere to all instructions issued by the local authorities.

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