Earlier today, the Secret Service announced that it had "intercepted two suspicious packages addressed to Secret Service protectees,” former President Barack Obama and presidential candidate, Hillary Clinton. According to a report by The New York Times, two explosive devices were discovered during routine mail screenings conducted by the politicians' staff.
The statement made by the Secret Service reveals that the device addressed to Mrs. Clinton was identified late on Tuesday, while the device addressed to Obama was discovered earlier today, Wednesday, October 24th. “The packages were immediately identified during routine mail screening procedures as potential explosive devices and were appropriately handled as such,” the statement reads. “The protectees did not receive the packages nor were they at risk of receiving them.”
Law enforcement officials believe that the aforementioned devices were similar to that sent to the New York home of billionaire investor and philanthropist, George Soros. The device is said to have been six inches long and filled with explosive powder. Though a motive and suspect has yet to be identified, the Secret Service writes in their statement that they have “initiated a full scope criminal investigation that will leverage all available federal, state, and local resources to determine the source of the packages and identify those responsible.”