Law enforcement authorities in South Florida investigated suspicious packages sent to two district offices of Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-Fla., on Wednesday.
The first package was found outside the district office of the congresswoman in Sunrise, Fla., and the area was evacuated around 10:30 a.m..
In addition to the Sunrise Police Department, the FBI, the Broward Sheriff’s Office Bomb Squad and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives all responded to the office, which is located at 777 Sawgrass Corporate Parkway.
Later Wednesday afternoon, law enforcement officials also said they were also investigating a suspicious package at Wasserman Schultz's Aventura, Fla., office. The office is roughly 20 miles southeast of the Sunrise office.
ALERT!!! We are working an investigation of a suspicious package near Sawgrass Corporate Parkway. Please stay out of the area of NW 8th St and NW 136th Ave. We will provide further updates when available.
— Sunrise Police FL (@SunrisePoliceFL) October 24, 2018
At this time we are investigating a suspicious package in the area of NW. 8th St. and Sawgrass Corporate Parkway. There have been no reports of any other incidents or suspicious packages at any other venues within Sunrise. If any other information becomes known, we will advise.
— Sunrise Police FL (@SunrisePoliceFL) October 24, 2018
#AventuraPolice is investigating a suspicious package that was delivered to our Government Center. This is being done as a precaution due to recent events. Do not use W. Country Club Dr. since we have blocked off the street. Will advise when we have more info @cityofaventura
— Aventura Police (@aventurapolice) October 24, 2018
#AventuraPolice **FINAL UPDATE** The suspicious package has been checked by @MiamiDadePD and @MiamiDadeFire And determined to be SAFE! The package we received has no nexus to any of the other national incidents that occurred today. Roadway will be cleared soon. @cityofaventura
— Aventura Police (@aventurapolice) October 24, 2018
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Sunrise Police Officer Chris Piper said the FBI and the U.S. Postal Service would take the lead in determining if the package contained an explosive device.
“They are taking certain protocols to make sure that the package is safe for delivery,” he told the MiamI Herald. “The FBI will be taking the package and assuming the role, taking it to the laboratory.”
In a statement, Wasserman Schultz condemned the attacks, and said she and her staff "will not be intimidated by this attempted act of violence."
"This morning my office in Sunrise, Florida was evacuated due to a suspicious package. In an abundance of caution, my office in Aventura, Florida was also evacuated. I have been in direct contact with the FBI and other law enforcement officials who are working tirelessly on this investigation, and I am grateful for their efforts to keep us safe," she said in an emailed statement.
Wasserman Schultz, former chairwoman for the Democratic National Committee, said the "appalling attack on our democracy must be vigorously prosecuted, and I am deeply disturbed by the way my name was used."
"The FBI is working in coordination with our law enforcement partners to investigate the suspicious packages," a FBI spokesperson told the Washington Examiner.
The news comes after the Secret Service said it had intercepted “potential explosive devices” sent to the residences of former President Barack Obama in Washington, D.C., early Wednesday and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in New York late Tuesday.
An explosive device was also found outside the home of billionaire Democratic funder George Soros on Monday.
The New York offices of CNN were also evacuated early Wednesday after a suspicious package addressed to former CIA Director John Brennan was intercepted. The explosive device has since been removed and the investigation is ongoing.
NBC News reported that the suspicious package received at the Sunrise office was originally addressed to former Attorney General Eric Holder. The address used for Holder was incorrect, so it was sent back to the sender's address, which was Wasserman Schultz's office.
It has also been reported that the return addresses for the packages sent to the Obamas, Clinton and CNN also had Wasserman Shultz as the sender.
Rep. Maxine Waters, D-Calif., was also the target of a suspicious device which was intercepted at a Congressional mail facility outside of Washington, D.C. on Wednesday.