CNN evacuated for bomb, white powder

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The pipe bomb that was sent to CNN in New York. (Courtesy of NYPD)

A pipe bomb and an envelope containing white powder were delivered to CNN's New York City headquarters at the Time Warner Center in Manhattan, according to the NYPD.

Officials said the crude but operational bomb was addressed to former CIA Director John Brennan, a CNN contributor. The CNN offices were evacuated as a large police presence took hold in the area.

"We've seen this before, we've seen worse, and we will not be intimidated," NYPD Commissioner James O'Neill said at an afternoon news conference. "We will bring these perpetrators to justice."

Immediately after the incident, New York City issued a shelter-in-place alert for people who live on West 58th Street between Columbus Avenue and 8th Avenue.

The incident created gridlock in the busy area of the West Side. The NYPD said the subway trains were running in that area.

"This clearly is an act of terror attempting to undermine our free press and leaders of this country through acts of violence," Mayor Bill de Blasio said at the news conference.

The incident came after federal authorities intercepted suspected bombs intended for the Obamas and Clintons.

Officials said the device at CNN appeared to be similar to the other explosives, including one sent to billionaire George Soros a day earlier.

On Wednesday, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said a suspicious package was sent to his Manhattan office. The package contained computer files on The Proud Boys, a far-right group, according to Cuomo spokesperson Rich Azzopardi. Some members of the Proud Boys were recently involved in a brawl in the city.

"Terrorism, the attempt to spread fear, is the world that we live in," Cuomo said at the news conference. "We are New Yorkers, we are smart, we are tough, we are resilient, and we will not allow these terrorist thugs to change the way we live our lives."

The NYPD said on Twitter that it deployed teams around the city "out of an abundance of caution."

"If anyone sees something that looks suspicious, please call 911," the NYPD tweeted. "Anyone with any information on this incident today, or about incidents in the New York area, please call 1-888-NYC-SAFE."