CNN’s NYC Studios Evacuated After Suspicious Package Sent to Time Warner Center

NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 24: Police, FBI and other emergency workers gather outside the Time
Spencer Platt/Getty Images, Inset: ABC News

Update: CNN president Jeff Zucker says the NYPD has “concluded its security sweep, and it is now safe to return” to the news network’s Time Warner Center office in New York City after a suspected explosive device was found, prompting an evacuation. 

CNN’s newsroom in the Time Warner Center was evacuated Wednesday following reports that a suspicious package was sent to its New York City studios. Multiple sources told the news network that the package was addressed to former CIA Director and MSNBC contributor John Brennan.

CNN President Jeff Zucker announced in a statement that the network is cooperating with law enforcement to “determine the severity of the situation” following the incident and said bureaus around the world are being inspected out of caution.

ABC News and CNN shared photos of the device. The return address is a Florida office for Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL).

Earlier, the U.S. Secret Service said agents intercepted packages containing “possible explosive devices” addressed to former President Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton.

The agency says neither Clinton nor Obama received the packages, and neither was at risk of receiving them because of screening procedures. It says the devices were discovered late Tuesday and early Wednesday.

A U.S. official tells The Associated Press that a “functional explosive device” was found during screening at Bill and Hillary Clintons’ suburban New York home. The official says investigators believe the explosive is linked to one found Monday at the compound of liberal billionaire George Soros. The Secret Service says a second package was addressed to Obama and was intercepted in Washington. Further, NBC’s Pete Williams reports that the Secret Service intercepted another suspicious package addressed to former Attorney General Eric Holder.

The White House is condemning attempted attacks made against Obama and the Clintons. Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders says in a statement: “These terrorizing acts are despicable, and anyone responsible will be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law.” She adds: “The United States Secret Service and other law enforcement agencies are investigating and will take all appropriate actions to protect anyone threatened by these cowards.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

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