US pipe bombs suspect named and charged following his arrest in Florida by FBI agents
The man arrested in connection with mailing at least 14 pipe bombs to critics of US president Donald Trump has been named and charged in Florida.
Cesar Sayoc, 56, was taken into custody on Friday by federal agents and faces five charges, including for mailing explosives and threatening ex-presidents.
The packages had been sent to 14 different people including former president Barack Obama, former first lady and secretary of state Hilary Clinton and actor Robert De Niro, with former Vice President Joe Biden, former Attorney General Eric Holder and former CIA director John Brennan among the other intended recipients.
All of the targeted individuals had been critical of Trump and the mail bombs were delivered just two weeks before the mid-term elections, with political tension in the country higher than usual.
Trump responded to the acts by saying they were "despicable and have no place in our country".
Sayoc was arrested outside a car parts store in Plantation, Florida, near Miami as helicopters flew overhead, while the van he had been residing in, which was covered in pro-Trump stickers, was also seized.
Fingerprint and DNA evidence helped identify the suspect after they were found on one of the packages. Mobile phone data was used to help track him down and make the arrest, FBI director Christopher Wray revealed.
Wray also warned that the arrest did not necessarily spell the end of it, with other packages potentially on route to targets.
"There may be other packages in transit now and other packages on the way," Wray said.
Mr Sayoc was a part-time pizza deliveryman, grocery worker and former stripper. He had a criminal record after previously being charged for threatening to bomb an electric company in a billing dispute.
The 56-year-old was charged with felony counts, including interstate transportation and illegal mailing of explosives, threatening a former president, making threatening interstate communications and assaulting federal officers.
US officials say he faces up to 48 years in prison.
Announcing the arrest to a cheering audience at the White House, Trump said, "We must never allow political violence to take root in America – cannot let it happen.
"And I'm committed to doing everything in my power as president to stop it and to stop it now," he added.