NEW YORK – Authorities
are calling the discovery of pipe bombs near the Westchester home of former
President Bill and Hillary Clinton, the Washington home of former President
Barack and Michelle Obama and Governor Cuomo’s New York City office
and the CNN offices in Manhattan acts of terrorism. A fifth bomb was sent
to Westchester billionaire George Soro’s home in Westchester.
A white powder was also found in an envelope in the CNN mailroom.
“Terrorism works if you let it work,” Cuomo said at a mid-day
news conference.
Later in the day, Cuomo spokesman Rich Azzopardi issued a statement –
“A preliminary investigation on the package at Governor Cuomo’s
office shows it is computer files on the hate group, The Proud Boys, who
recently appeared in New York.”
New York City Mayor Bill deBlasio said NYPD have reinforced all potential
targets including other media outlets, mass transit facilities and rolling
stock. They include the Metro-North Railroad that brings commuters back
and forth in the Mid-Hudson Valley.
DeBlasio said at a time when there is a lot of hatred and division, “it
does not make sense to exacerbate it. To all public officials of all partisan
affiliations, don’t encourage violence, don’t encourage hatred;
don’t encourage attacks on media.” He said, “You can
disagree but you have to show respect for people and air your disagreements
peacefully. Unfortunately, this atmosphere of hatred is contributing to
the choices people are making to turn to violence. The way to stop that
is to turn the other way, to bring back the temperature, to end any messages
about the use of violence against people we disagree with and that has
to start at the top.”
FBI Special Agent in Charge Brian Paarmann said the mission of the New
York Joint Terrorism Task Force is to protect the people and uphold the
Constitution. “The utilization of violence in order to further one’s
own political agenda is not acceptable to use and we will not rest until
we find this, stop these hazardous devices from being mailed and bring
the individuals or individuals to justice,” he said.
