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What We Know About Those Suspicious Devices Right Now

The devices were sent in bulky manila envelopes and had the same return address

What to Know

  • Explosive devices sent to Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, George Soros, CNN, Eric Holder, Maxine Waters and others appear to be linked
  • At least eight of the devices were similar-looking, sent in a manila envelope with multiple stamps on it
  • They also listed the same return address -- one connected to Debbie Wasserman Schultz

Over the last four days, 12 suspected or confirmed pipe bombs have been sent to high-profile Democrats and supporters in five states, mostly in New York.

New details continue to emerge about the delivery, contents and treatment of each of those packages -- all of which shared the same bulky, manila packaging and the same return address. Sources say the devices were made from PVC pipe and contained a timer to set off the detonator. The powder in the bombs came from pyrotechnics and there was likely shrapnel inside the PVC pipes, the sources say.

However officials have since revealed that were flawed and not capable of exploding. It was unclear whether they were hoaxes or just poorly made.

Here’s what we know about each of the seized devices so far:

GEORGE SOROS

  • A suspicious package was found in George Soros’ mailbox at his home in Bedford, New York, about 3:45 p.m. Monday. It was found by an employee, who threw it into the woods and phoned police.
  • The package was in a manilla envelope and had multiple stamps on it. It appeared to be a working explosive, although analysis is pending further testing.
  • The pipe bomb included some sort of device attached to it with black tape and wires. It arrived in a bulky manila envelope with six stamps on it. The address and return address was printed on white paper and taped to the manila folder.
  • The device contained explosive powder, a law enforcement source told News 4. It was detonated as a precaution.
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FORMER SEC. OF STATE HILLARY CLINTON

  • Secret Service screeners reviewing mail to Hillary Clinton at an outside mail sorting facility find a potentially explosive device addressed to the former secretary of state
  • Clinton was not home at the time; Her husband former President Bill Clinton was at home
  • The package was in a manilla envelope and had multiple stamps on it. It appeared to be a working explosive, although analysis is pending further testing.
  • The package listed a return address as one belonging to Debbie Wasserman Schultz

FORMER PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA

  • Routine mail screening turned up a suspicious and potentially explosive device Wednesday morning
  • The package was in a manilla envelope and had multiple stamps on it. It appeared to be a working explosive, although analysis is pending further testing.
  • The package listed a return address as one belonging to Debbie Wasserman Schultz
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JOHN BRENNAN / CNN

  • A suspicious package is discovered in CNN’s Manhattan mailroom mid-morning Wednesday, addressed to former CIA head John Brennan
  • The parcel has a manila outer packaging and stamps on it
  • The device inside the package appeared to be a “live explosive,” NYPD commissioner O’Neill said
  • An envelope with white powder was also found in the packaging, but that powder was tested and not gound to be of any biological threat
  • The device also included a parody image of the ISIS flag.  
  • The building was evacuated while the package is removed

ERIC HOLDER / DEBBIE WASSERMAN SCHULTZ

  • A suspicious device is intercepted at the Florida office of Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz in Sunrise, Florida, Wednesday morning
  • It is delivered in a bulky manila envelope with stamps on it
  • The device is addressed to former Attorney General Eric Holder, but appears to have been delivered to the return sender listed on the mail: Wasserman Schultz
  • Investigators believe the package addressed to Holder may have had the wrong address, which is why it was shipped back to the nominal sender (Schultz's return address). Schultz did not send the packages.
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REP. MAXINE WATERS

  • Two devices were sent to addresses for U.S. Rep Maxine Waters (D-California). One was intercepted at a U.S. Capitol mail facility in Maryland; the other was caught at a mail sorting facility in Los Angeles. 
  • The FBI said the two packages were "similar in nature" to the others.
  • No other information was available about the devices

ROBERT DE NIRO

  • Bomb squad techs removed a similar package from a Greenwich Street building that houses offices for Tribeca Films and Tribeca Grill; De Niro owns the building and the package was addressed to him
  • Authorities haven't said exactly what was in the package, but the item had the same manila envelope and same return address as the others

FORMER VICE PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN

  • Federal authorities found a ninth package, addressed to former Vice President Joe Biden, at a mail facility in New Castle, Delaware, on Thursday morning.
  • The package appeared similar to the others and had the same return address.
  • A 10th package, also addressed to Biden, was found later Thursday morning in Wilmington, Delaware. 
  • Authorities had been searching the mail system nationwide since Wednesday looking for the Biden package, which they had reason to believe existed. 

SEN. CORY BOOKER

  • A device addressed to NJ Sen. Booker was discovered in Florida Friday morning. 
  • It was intended for an address in Camden, New Jersey. Booker's office declined to comment on it.

EX-DNI JAMES CLAPPER

  • A device addressed to former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper, care of CNN, was found at a postal facility in midtown Manhattan Friday morning.
  • Clapper told CNN that he was out of town and that neighbors had been checking his mail for him.

NEW YORK GOVERNOR ANDREW CUOMO

  • Gov. Cuomo said a suspicious package was received at his Manhattan office Wednesday afternoon
  • That package turned out to be a letter, not a device, a senior law enforcement source said. A Cuomo spokesman said the item appeared to contain computer files on the Proud Boys.
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