US pipe bomb suspect Cesar Sayoc kept 'list of elected officials'
US authorities have reportedly recovered soldering equipment, a printer and stamps as they investigate Cesar Sayoc.
Monday 29 October 2018 22:00, UK
A man accused of sending pipe bombs to critics of Donald Trump reportedly kept a list of intended targets, including elected officials.
Authorities investigating Cesar Sayoc have also recovered soldering equipment, a printer and stamps similar to those used on the package bombs, the AP news agency said.
It is believed Sayoc was putting explosives together in his van, a source told the agency.
Hours before Sayoc appeared in court on Monday, a suspicious package was intercepted which had been addressed to CNN.
Others have been sent to Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama and Robert De Niro.
CNN - which Mr Trump has called the "enemy of the people" - also received one of the 13 pipe bombs sent out last week.
Sayoc, 56, remained mostly silent as he appeared before a judge in Miami, and is due back in court on Friday.
He is accused of five felony counts including the interstate transportation and illegal mailing of explosives, and threatening a former president.
Sayoc, who is being held without bail, was arrested on Friday after authorities identified his fingerprint on one of the devices.
CNN president Jeff Zucker revealed a suspicious package addressed to the cable television network had been intercepted at an Atlanta post office.
He said there was no imminent danger to CNN staff and all of its mail has been screened offsite since its offices in New York received a package bomb.
The FBI confirmed bomb squads were called to the Atlanta post office but did not identify to whom the package was addressed.
It said on Twitter that the Atlanta package was "similar in appearance" to others that had been sent.
William Sweeney, an assistant director of the FBI, has warned of the possibility that further pipe bombs could be sent.
Speaking at a news conference, US attorney general Jeff Sessions said the suspect could face up to 48 years in prison if found guilty but reiterated that he was "innocent until proven guilty".
US President Donald Trump complained on Twitter that this "bomb stuff" had slowed momentum for the Republicans ahead of the US midterm elections, which are less than two weeks away.
"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," he wrote. "Very unfortunate, what is going on. Republicans, go out and vote!"
Others sent suspicious packages include former vice president Joe Biden, billionaire philanthropist George Soros and former CIA head John Brennan.