Florida man held in mail-bomb probe, more suspicious packages found
NEW YORK: A man in Florida has been arrested in connection with the suspected mail bombs sent to high profile figure, FBI and other law-enforcement agencies said on Friday.
The man has been identified as Cesar Sayoc, according to officials. Florida records show that Sayoc has a lengthy criminal record in the state, including a 2002 arrest for a bomb threat and others for larceny and fraud. An attorney who previously represented him in another case declined to comment.
The FBI and the Justice Department both confirmed that a person was in custody and said more information would be released at a news conference.
US President Donald Trump applauded the arrest at a partisan meeting of supporters. Two more postal packages were discovered, addressed to New Jersey senator Cory Booker and the former director of national intelligence, James Clapper.
The law-enforcement authorities are describing the case of 12 packages as cases of domestic terrorism.
There have now been 12 packages found this week, after pipe bombs were sent to former president Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, and several other Democratic political figures. All 12 packages were addressed to President Trump’s critics and target of vitriolic speech by the US leader.
Donald Trump responded by casting doubt on the attacks and focusing on political concerns. “Republicans are doing so well in early voting, and at the polls, and now this ‘Bomb’ stuff happens and the momentum greatly slows — news not talking politics. Very unfortunate, what is going on. Republicans, go out and vote!”
Former National Intelligence official James Clapper on Friday said the packages were part of campaign of “domestic terrorism” intended to sow fear and intimidate people.
“This is not going to silence the administration’s critics,” Clapper told CNN. “But anyone who has in any way been a public critic of President Trump needs to be on extra alert and take some precautions particularly with respect to mail.”
New York governor Andrew Cuomo said Trump’s reaction to the attempted attacks was “wholly inappropriate” and shows he “never fully made the transition to the presidency”.
“Am I hopeful that the zebra changes his or her stripes today? No,” he said on CNN.
Published in Dawn, October 27th , 2018
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