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The NYPD is investigating a suspicious package in Hell's Kitchen, at a mail facility on 52nd Street between 8th and 9th Avenues. Police have warned people to avoid the area and expect "heavy traffic."
We are responding to a report of a suspicious package in the vicinity of West 52nd Street and 8th Avenue, #Manhattan. Please avoid the area and expect a police presence and heavy traffic. More information to follow. pic.twitter.com/fygm9IvS63
— NYPD NEWS (@NYPDnews) October 26, 2018
An NYPD spokesperson confirmed that investigators are at a US Postal facility on 322 West 52nd Street. The spokesperson said employees at the facility discovered a package that "closely resembled" other suspicious packages recovered recently. Investigators were seen at the location on Wednesday when the Time Warner Center was evacuated after an explosive device was sent to CNN.
NBC is now reporting that a suspicious package in Manhattan was addressed to former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper. The NYPD did not confirm to whom this morning's suspicious package was addressed, but CNN's James Sciutto reports that the package was addressed to Clapper at CNN's midtown HQ.
BREAKING: Suspicious package addressed to former Director of National Intelligence Clapper intercepted in Manhattan, @PeteWilliamsNBC reports; a 12th device.
— NBC News (@NBCNews) October 26, 2018
Breaking: NY package addressed to Former DNI James Clapper at CNN’s NY office.
— Jim Sciutto (@jimsciutto) October 26, 2018
Meanwhile, the Associated Press is reporting that an 11th suspicious package has been recovered in Florida that is "similar in appearance to others [and] addressed to NJ Sen. Cory Booker."
UPDATE 9:17 a.m.: The AP confirms the suspicious package under investigation on West 52nd Street is addressed to former Intelligence Director James Clapper. Clapper has been an outspoken critic of President Trump; in his memoir, Facts and Fears, Clapper wrote that Russia's interference in the 2016 election swung the election to Trump.
UPDATE 10:35 a.m.: The suspicious package at West 52nd Street has been safely removed, the NYPD said. Traffic and a heavy police presence should be expected in the area this morning.
In a statement released Friday, Robert De Niro—whose office received one of the suspicious packages on Thursday morning—said, “I thank God no one's been hurt, and I thank the brave and resourceful security and law enforcement people for protecting us. There's something more powerful than bombs, and that's your vote. People MUST vote!"
Predictably, President Trump now appears to believe that the threats are part of a left-wing false flag operation, noting on Twitter Friday morning that the "bomb stuff" is depressing Republican voter turnout. (Here's a look at how the mail bombs are actually impacting local voters ahead of the midterms).
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!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 26, 2018
Additional reporting by Alec Hamilton and Jake Offenhartz.