The string of suspicious packages and mail bombs sent within the past few days to various politicians and CNN are the “highest priority” for the FBI, the federal law enforcement agency’s head said Wednesday.
[READ: Pipe bombs scare: Here's what we know]
“We have committed the full strength of the FBI’s resources and, together with our partners on our Joint Terrorism Task Forces, we will continue to work to identify and arrest whoever is responsible for sending these packages,” said FBI Director Christopher Wray. “We ask anyone who may have information to contact the FBI. Do not hesitate to call; no piece of information is too small to help us in this investigation.”
In a rare and lengthy press release, the FBI said all packages are similar in appearance and all “contain potentially destructive devices.”
All packages had as the return address “DEBBIE WASSERMAN SHULTZ” in Florida, said the FBI.
Wasserman Schultz is a Democratic congresswoman from Florida and the former chairwoman of the Democratic National Committee. Two of her field offices were evacuated and investigated after receiving packages on Wednesday.
The FBI confirmed that the following people were sent the packages, which were mailed in manila envelopes with bubble-wrap interior and affixed with computer-printed address labels and six Forever stamps:
- Billionaire and liberal funder George Soros
- Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton
- Former President Barack Obama
- Former CIA Director John Brennan, care of CNN
- Former Attorney General Eric Holder
The package addressed to Holder did not reach its intended destination, but was rerouted to Schultz's office in Florida.
Time Warner Center in New York City, where CNN has offices, was evacuated early Wednesday.
The FBI said it is possible that additional packages were mailed to other locations and advised “the public to remain vigilant and not touch, move or handle any suspicious or unknown packages.”
No injuries or deaths have thus far been reported in connection with the attempted attacks.
President Trump called the attempted bombings “despicable” and said the federal government would be conducting a full investigation.
“This egregious conduct is abhorrent to everything we hold dear,” Trump said during remarks at the White House. “We’re extremely angry, upset, unhappy about what we witnessed this morning and we will get to the bottom of it.”
Trump, who is often critical of news outlets and opposing politicians, did not address such prior remarks, nor did he directly mention the attempted attack on CNN.
Trump still plans to go to a Wednesday night campaign rally in Wisconsin. At a similar rally last week, Trump praised a Republican congressman’s assault on a Guardian reporter.
The president of CNN Worldwide slammed the Trump administration and said Trump's harsh words about the press are a factor in the incident.
"There is a total and complete lack of understanding at the White House about the seriousness of their continued attacks on the media,” Zucker said in a statement Wednesday afternoon.