The suspect arrested in connection with the suspicious packages is in his 50s and has a criminal history, a law enforcement source says. He was arrested at a business in Plantation, Florida. https://t.co/gid3IxaIP3 pic.twitter.com/HwvwUTahL6
— CNN Breaking News (@cnnbrk) October 26, 2018
The Department of Justice confirmed on Friday that a suspect had been taken into custody in connection with the string of packages containing explosive devices that have been sent to prominent Democrats and outspoken critics of President Trump over the course of the past several days. As of Friday morning, 12 packages had been found sent to 10 different targets, including the Obamas, Clintons, former Vice President Joe Biden, Cory Booker, CNN, and actor Robert De Niro. A possible 13th package was discovered having been sent to Sen. Kamala Harris (D-CA) early Friday.
The suspect has since been identified as 56-year-old Cesar Sayoc Jr., of Aventura, Florida, who reportedly has a criminal history and ties to New York. A white van driven by the alleged suspect is covered in Trump and GOP stickers, including photos of a few of his targets with literal cross-hairs drawn over them.
The alleged bombing suspect's van is covered with GOP & Trump stickers pic.twitter.com/vMLQ3QR197
— jordan (@JordanUhl) October 26, 2018
@CBSMiami I have some pictures of this van I saw him at a stoplight one day and thought is was very strange. pic.twitter.com/VWUwznJK8k
— M&M (@thereal_mo01) October 26, 2018
A closer look at the stickers that are on the van at the scene in Plantation, Florida. pic.twitter.com/Qml9tmEKMy
— MSNBC (@MSNBC) October 26, 2018
Florida Governor Rick Scott has now released a statement via Twitter regarding the suspect’s capture in his state. “ANY attempt to harm others is disgusting & has no place in Florida or our country,” he wrote. “I appreciate the hard work of law enforcement to bring swift justice to whoever is responsible for these cowardly acts.”
I have been briefed by FDLE on developments regarding the attempted bombings. ANY attempt to harm others is disgusting & has no place in Florida or our country. I appreciate the hard work of law enforcement to bring swift justice to whoever is responsible for these cowardly acts.
— Rick Scott (@SenRickScott) October 26, 2018
Trump addressed the arrest of Sayoc Jr. while speaking of at the Young Black Leadership Summit on Friday afternoon. As CNN points out, he made no mention specifically of the targets or their political affiliations, and referred to CNN as simply a “media organization.”
“The bottom line is that Americans must unify and we must show the world that we are united together in peace and love and harmony as fellow American citizens,” he said. “There is no country like our country and every day we are showing he world just how truly great we are.”
"Americans must unify and we must show the world that we are united together in peace and love and harmony as fellow American citizens," says President Trump during remarks after arrest of mail-bombing suspect https://t.co/W4ZYIKBWGr pic.twitter.com/jV0c9Xs8jl
— CNN News Central (@NewsCentralCNN) October 26, 2018
Just minutes later, Trump blasted “fake polls” in the East Room to a crowd that reportedly yelled “fake news” “CNN sucks,” so clearly his message of unity was well received by his supporters.