WASHINGTON: The delivery of a suspicious package containing two vials of blood to the Republican National Committee’s headquarters in Washington on Wednesday morning led to a brief evacuation of the building.
Some reports said the package was addressed to former President Donald Trump.
RNC Chairman Michael Whatley said someone sent the vials of blood to the organization’s headquarters, prompting a police lockdown. In a statement, he called it a “revolting attack”.
“Today, vials of blood were sent to RNC Headquarters in DC. We are thankful to law enforcement, who responded quickly and ensured everyone’s safety … we remain unintimidated and undeterred in our efforts to elect President Trump.”
–@ChairmanWhatley https://t.co/lLMmE6qK4y— GOP (@GOP) May 22, 2024
The RNC is the parent organization of the Republican Party. It is playing a key role in the Trump’s campaign against President Joe Biden in the November 5 Presidential elections.
“No matter what violent tactics Biden’s extreme left supporters try next, we stand firm in our mission to deliver greater freedom and opportunity for all Americans, and we won’t back down, Whaley wrote.
White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre called reports about the blood vials “concerning” during her regular briefing with reporters.
Q: “The RNC HQ is reporting it received blood vials…This White House has been very clear in the past about aggressively condemning political violence, intimidation of any kind. Will you do the same given these circumstances.”
KJP: “I will do the same as I have done many times… pic.twitter.com/6pNju4TbXk
— Townhall.com (@townhallcom) May 22, 2024
The White House condemns “any political violence, threats or intimidation,”she said.
The United States Capitol Police’s hazardous incident response division cleared the package, which contained two vials of blood, just before 10 a.m., according to spokesperson Brianna Burch.
Authorities initially closed off one street and directed staff and other personnel to avoid the area, which is close to the U.S. Capitol building. By midmorning, employees were re-entering the offices, and police were leaving the scene.
“The source of the package and its contents will be further investigated,” U.S. Capitol Police said in a statement.
(REUTERS)
In a career spanning three decades and counting, Ramananda (Ram to his friends) has been the foreign editor of The Telegraph, Outlook Magazine and the New Indian Express. He helped set up rediff.com’s editorial operations in San Jose and New York, helmed sify.com, and was the founder editor of India.com.
His work has featured in national and international publications like the Al Jazeera Centre for Studies, Global Times and Ashahi Shimbun. But his one constant over all these years, he says, has been the attempt to understand rising India’s place in the world.
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Talk to him about foreign and strategic affairs, media, South Asia, China, and of course India.
