‘US mail bomber’ with van covered in Trump stickers is arrested in Florida
- Cesar Sayoc, 56, was arrested in a business car park, and a van plastered with pro-Trump slogans and images targeting his critics was taken from the scene
- FBI Director Chris Wray said the 13 bombs recovered in the case ‘were not hoax devices’, and others may be in circulation
Federal authorities arrested a suspect on Friday in connection with at least 13 parcel bombs sent this week to Democratic politicians and high-profile critics of US President Donald Trump, the US Justice Department said.
A van was taken away from the scene of the arrest of Cesar Sayoc, 56, in a Florida business car park. The van was covered in stickers and photos of Donald Trump. Officers swiftly covered the van in a blue tarpaulin.
In a press conference, FBI Director Chris Wray said Sayoc had been arrested as a result of DNA and other forensic evidence, and one package sent to Congresswoman Maxine Waters carried a fingerprint that matched Sayoc’s. Wray said the bombs sent in the case were “not hoax devices”, and he repeatedly referred to them as “IEDs” (improvised explosive devices).
Wray said 13 bombs had been recovered, but there may be others.
Sayoc - a registered Republican and devoted supporter of Trump who attended his rallies and wore a “Make America Great Again” cap, according to images and videos on his social media accounts - faces 48 years in prison if convicted of five federal crimes.