Man arrested in connection with attempted bombings
- The arrest occurred in South Florida after officials reportedly tracked the suspect’s cell phone.
- On Friday, suspected explosives were discovered at addresses associated with Sen. Cory Booker and former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper.
- The Justice Department is scheduled to hold a press conference at 2:30 p.m. E.T.
Federal authorities have arrested a man in connection with the multiple bombs sent to prominent Democrats this week, the Justice Department said Friday.
The arrest happened in South Florida and it comes just hours after authorities discovered two suspected explosive packages sent to addresses associated with Sen. Cory Booker and former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper. In total, 12 Democrats and critics of President Donald Trump have been targeted in the string of attempted bombings.
Sarah Isgur Flores, a spokesperson with the Justice Department, confirmed the arrest on Twitter and announced a press conference in the afternoon.
We can confirm one person is in custody. We will hold a press conference at the Department of Justice at 2:30pm ET.
— Sarah Isgur Flores (@whignewtons) October 26, 2018
The suspect is reportedly a 56-year-old man named Cesar Sayoc. In live video footage from the arrest scene—an AutoZone in Plantation, Fla.—officials could be seen investigating a white van covered in pro-Trump stickers and other right-leaning decals.
Image of the van discovered at the arrest scene.
Officials had been tracking the suspect via cell phone early Friday morning, leading to an arrest just several miles from where the suspect lives, according to a senior law enforcement official who spoke to The Daily Beast.
The van that appears to be connected to the suspected bomber is covered in pro-Trump stickers, including the presidential seal, and what MSNBC says investigators referred to as other "right-wing paraphernalia." pic.twitter.com/gjIleeu3yb
— Robert Maguire (@RobertMaguire_) October 26, 2018Attorney General Jeff Sessions said the FBI, Secret Service and other agencies were "working tirelessly" to investigate the packages.
"I can tell you this: we will find the person -- persons responsible, and we're going to bring them to justice."
It's currently unclear exactly how authorities managed to track down the suspect, though several package-screening techniques used by the USPS might have played a role. Those include portable X-ray machines and biological detection systems (BDS), as well as tell-tale signs of suspicious packages, such as heavy items sent to high-profile destinations or packages sent using stamps only (so suspects can avoid the cameras they would encounter in the post office while paying for exact postage).
