US security and federal officials said on Wednesday they are investigating suspicious packages sent to former US President Barack Obama and Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton.
A package addressed to Mrs. Clinton was found late Tuesday, and a package addressed to President Obama was found early Wednesday.
President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence condemned the attempted attacks on Twitter, calling them a "cowardly" act that they said had no place in this country.
Donald Trump said Wednesday afternoon that his administration would provide more information as it conducts further investigations. He condemned the suspicious packages and said political violence has no place in America.
In his tweet, Mike Pence praised the response of the Secret Service and police in identifying and seizing these packages and said that justice will be served against the perpetrator or perpetrators of these failed attacks.
President Trump also retweeted his vice president's tweet, writing, "I wholeheartedly agree!"
US House Speaker Paul Ryan also called for the prosecution of those behind the attacks in a tweet, saying, "We cannot tolerate any attempt to instill fear among the public."
Officials say both packages were discovered during routine inspection of postal packages and that Mr. Obama and Mrs. Clinton were not in danger.
Hillary Clinton thanked the US Secret Service for its timely action in discovering the suspicious package.
Several other suspicious packages have been sent to the news agency. The Associated Press reported that a suspicious package was also sent to Debbie Wasserman Schultz, a Democratic representative from Florida. Hillary Clinton was speaking in favor of Democratic candidates in Florida. The news agency also reported that a suspicious package was sent to CNN.
The US Secret Service announced the news in a tweet, writing that an investigation has been launched in cooperation with law enforcement.
Earlier this week, a postal package containing a small bomb was discovered, addressed to liberal billionaire George Soros.
New York Police officials say a suspicious package sent to CNN appears to be linked to suspicious packages sent to Obama, Clinton and Soros.
The New York governor also says his office in Manhattan has received a suspicious package. A suspicious package was also reportedly sent to John Brennan.
However, New York police said the package sent to the state's governor was not a bomb and was not connected to other packages.
Source: Voice of America
