BOMBS TARGET LIBERAL LEADERS AND MEDIA IN ATTEMPTED TERROR ATTACKS

By Miriam Raftery

October 24, 2018 (San Diego's East County) - Bombs sent to former president Barack Obama, former Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton, liberal funder George Soros, media outlet CNN, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo and other targets are being denounced as acts of terrorism.

The first was a pipe bomb mailed to Soros. The CNN package containing a bomb was mailed to former CIA director John Brennan, a commentator for the network whose criticism of President Donald Trump resulted in Trump revoking Brennan’s security clearance earlier this year.

CNN reports that all of the devices found are similar and the attacks are likely linked. Some of the packages contained glass or other projectiles. The Secret Service intercepted packages targeting Clinton and Obama.

New York City Mayor Bill Blasio said the bombs were attempts to “terrorize” Americans and a free press.

White House spokesperson Sarah Huckabee called the attacks “despicable” adding “We condemn the attempted violent attacks recently made against President Obama, President Clinton, Secretary Clinton, and other public figures.”

The attacks follow vitriolic verbal attacks by President Trump on each of those targeted with bombs. At his rallies he has incited crowds to chant “Lock her up” regarding Clinton, has assailed CNN and media as “enemies of the people,” and harshly criticized Obama. Trump followers have falsely attacked Soros, a Jew, as anti-Semitic and a Nazi.

After the bomb targeting Soros was intercepted by authorities and detonated, the billionaire’s son, Alexander Soros, issued a statement calling for “a new political discourse that shuns the demonization of all political opponents," adding, "A first step would be to cast our ballots to reject those politicians cynically responsible for undermining the institutions of our democracy. And we must do it now, before it is too late."

Blasio issued this plea to all public officials: “Don’t encourage violence, don’t encourage hatred, don’t encourage attacks on media,” he said, adding, “Unfortunately this atmosphere of hatred is contributing to the choices people are making to turn to violence.”

A media report claiming the White House received a suspicious package turned out to be false, the Secret Service confirmed. As of press deadline, only liberal politicians and media appear to have been targeted.

Around the country, more packages are being discovered including one containing a device that prompted evacuation of former Democratic National Committee Chair Debbie Wasserman-Schultz’s office.

Locally, a suspicious package prompted evacuation of the San Diego Union-Tribune newspaper and Senator Kamala Harris’ office located in the same building, but that incident proved to be a false alarm.