Update 12:34 p.m.: Shortly after reporting that a suspicious package was also sent to the White House, CNN reported that their Time Warner Center in New York City was being evacuated.
While CNN initially reported that a similar package had been mailed to the White House, the Secret Service now says that no package addressed to the White House was intercepted.
In a statement, White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said, "These terrorizing acts are despicable, and anyone responsible will be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law."
Scene outside CNN NY HQ right now. #NYPD Bomb squad here. @CNNnewsroom pic.twitter.com/avUVaSKDRu
— Jim Sciutto (@jimsciutto) October 24, 2018
Another device, described as a being made of pipes and wires, was found in the Time Warner Center mailroom and treated as a live explosive.
The original story follows:
A suspicious package sent to former President Barack Obama was intercepted by the Secret Service Wednesday morning.
The package is the third of its kind sent to prominent political figures this week.
Police say a suspicious package was also found near former President Bill and Hillary Clinton's home in Chappaqua, New York Tuesday night.
The New York Times reports that the device was discovered by a mail screener employed by the Clintons.
The Secret Service confirmed that they had intercepted the package, a "potential explosive device," along with another sent to Obama's home in Washington, D.C.
The agency has released this statement about the packages, which they say were identified as "potential explosive devices":
"The U.S. Secret Service has intercepted two suspicious packages addressed to Secret Service protectees.
Late on October 23, 2018, the Secret Service recovered a single package addressed to Former First Lady Hillary Clinton in Westchester County, New York.
Early this morning, October 24, 2018, a second package addressed to Former President Barack Obama was intercepted by Secret Service personnel in Washington, DC."
They also made clear that, "The protectees did not receive the packages nor were they at risk of receiving them," and that "a full scope criminal investigation" involving federal, state, and local authorities has been launched.
BREAKING: Secret Service intercepts suspicious packages addressed to the residences of former President Obama and former First Lady Hillary Clinton. Working with our law enforcement partners on the investigation. Our Statement: https://t.co/lJdTn04KmI
— U.S. Secret Service (@SecretService) October 24, 2018
The incidents follow another case two days ago, when an explosive device was discovered in the mailbox of billionaire and political activist George Soros' home in Bedford, New York.
The package in that case contained a "pipe bomb" according to authorities, and was disguised in a large envelope.
The package was discovered undetonated by an employee, and authorities say no one was hurt before the bomb was detonated by police as a precaution.
Soros was not at home when the device was discovered.
A senior law enforcement official told NBC 4 New York that the package found at the Clintons' home is "similar" to the bomb discovered in Soros' home.
Both the Clintons' and Soros' homes are in Westchester County, and the properties are reportedly just 20 minutes away from each other by car.
Investigators are still trying to determine key facts about both cases, including whether the packages were placed on the properties by hand, or sent through the mail.
[H/T: NBC 4, New York Times, CNBC]
