Suspect arrested after explosive devices sent to Trump critics and CNN

By Meg Wagner, Veronica Rocha, Sophie Tatum, Eric Levenson, Brian Ries, Paul P. Murphy and Jessie Yeung, CNN

Updated 2:25 p.m. ET, November 5, 2018
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5:49 p.m. ET, October 24, 2018

A messenger delivered the CNN package, sources say

From CNN's Shimon Prokupecz and Mary Anne Fox

The package sent to the Time Warner Center was delivered by courier, law enforcement sources tell CNN. It was addressed to John Brennan, the former CIA director, and "Time Warner (CNN)."

CNN previously reported that the package addressed to George Soros was put in the mailbox, not mailed, according to a separate law enforcement source.

1:56 p.m. ET, October 24, 2018

Maryland facility that intercepted suspicious package processes mail for House members

From CNN's Kristin Wilson and Ted Barrett

A Capitol Police source tells CNN that the Capitol Heights, Maryland facility, where a suspicious package was intercepted this morning, processes mail for members of the House.

Teams sent out this morning included a canine unit that swept the area. The Capitol Hill Police bomb squad is also on the scene.

The Senate's mail is screened at a separate facility, according to a Senate source.

1:51 p.m. ET, October 24, 2018

FBI agents are on the scene at Debbie Wasserman-Schultz's office

From CNN's Rosa Flores, Pamela Brown and Josh Campbell

FBI Miami is aware of a suspicious package mailed to Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman-Schultz's office in Sunrise, Florida, spokesman Jim Marshall told CNN.

Marshall said FBI agents are on the scene along with local law enforcement partners.

Two law enforcement sources tell CNN that the suspicious package was sent to Eric Holder, but it had the wrong address and was returned to Debbie Wasserman Schultz’s office in Florida because the congresswoman's address was the return label on the package.

The same return address was also used for the suspicious packages addressed to Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama.

1:43 p.m. ET, October 24, 2018

New York governor's message to Trump: "Bring down the rhetoric"

From CNN's Ray Sanchez

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo was just asked after his news conference if he has a message for President Donald Trump.

He replied, "I want to bring down the heat. I want to bring down the rancor. There is an apparent political pattern to this."

He added, "For everyone’s sake, the President, the Senate, the Congress, the governors, bring down the rhetoric.”

1:40 p.m. ET, October 24, 2018

National Counterterrorism Center has not concluded there is a foreign terror connection

From CNN's Jessica Schneider

National Counterterrorism Center spokesperson Maura Beard tells CNN that officials there have not yet reached a conclusion that there is a connection to foreign terrorism with the suspicious package.

NCTC says the FBI has the lead for the investigation and added that they will continue to collaborate with all law enforcement agencies. 

Earlier today, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said at a news conference that the device found at the CNN building is "clearly is an act of terror."

“What we saw here today was an effort to terrorize. This clearly is an act of terror attempting to undermine our free press and leaders of this country through acts of violence," he said 
1:35 p.m. ET, October 24, 2018

CNN's New York offices remain evacuated as authorities work to identify white powder

From CNN's Brian Stelter

CNN's New York offices and studios remain evacuated, more than three hours after the suspicious device was delivered to the mailroom.

"The security sweep of our building continues," CNN President Jeff Zucker said in a 1 p.m. ET update to staffers.

"There was some powder found within the package that was sent, and that powder now needs to be examined to determine what it is. As a result, it will take some time until we know more about the safety of the building."

In the meantime, staffers are working from nearby hotels, restaurants and other locations.

"I want to commend all of our colleagues in New York, in particular, and elsewhere, who have helped keep us on the air as this crisis has unfolded," Zucker wrote. "I am really proud of all of you. Thank you."

1:32 p.m. ET, October 24, 2018

FBI: Devices appear to be pipe bombs

FBI Special Agent in Charge C. Bryan Paarmann says that “so far the devices have been what appear to be pipe bombs.”

Potentially explosive devices have been mailed to Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, liberal billionaire George Soros, former FBI director John Brennan and Former Attorney General Eric Holder over the past few days.

1:32 p.m. ET, October 24, 2018

How the Time Warner Center package was discovered

From CNN's MaryAnne Fox

A Time Warner Center mailroom employee flagged the package to security, but did not open it, according to a source with direct knowledge.

Security called authorities, who opened the package.

1:30 p.m. ET, October 24, 2018

The chances that a piece of mail actually contains a bomb average less than one in 10 billion

From CNN's Saeed Ahmed

Despite today's news, a mail bomb is still an extremely rare occurrence -- and that's why it's noteworthy that officials are dealing with several potential bombs today.

Here's how rare it is: According to the US Postal Inspection Service, the postal service processes more than 170 billion pieces of mail every year. Over the last few years, the number of mail bombs inspectors have investigated? An average of 16. That, according to the agency, works out to be an average of less than 1 in 10 billion.