Two packages addressed to Biden intercepted in Delaware

Updated 12:45 p.m. EST

Two packages addressed to former Vice President Joe Biden were intercepted Thursday morning at mail facilities near New Castle and in Wilmington, the FBI has confirmed.

The #FBI has confirmed three additional packages, similar in appearance to the others – one in New York addressed to Robert DeNiro, and two in Delaware addressed to former Vice President Joseph Biden.

— FBI (@FBI) October 25, 2018

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In a tweet, the bureau said the packages appear similar to those sent to prominent Democrats in recent days. Those packages were pipe bombs containing shards of glass. None of the bombs have detonated and no one has been hurt.

Biden lives in Greenville, a few miles west of Wilmington. Police had swept Biden’s home on Wednesday after pipe bombs were delivered to former President Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, billionaire activist George Soros, U.S. Rep. Maxine Waters and others, including the New York City offices of CNN.

A law enforcement official told the Associated Press that one package addressed to Biden was sent to the sprawling Hares Corner post office near New Castle about eight miles south of Wilmington. The official was not authorized to discuss an ongoing investigation and spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity.

If you have info that could assist the #FBI‘s investigation of suspicious packages, call 1-800-CALLFBI (225-5324) or use https://t.co/iL7sD5efWD. If you observe suspicious activity that requires an immediate response, call 911 or contact local law enforcement immediately. pic.twitter.com/ZsFLKvXrKy

— FBI (@FBI) October 25, 2018

Biden declined to comment on the packages via his spokesman Bill Russo. On Wednesday, after the other packages were found, Biden tweeted, “This country has to come together. This division, this hatred, this ugliness has to end.”

This country has to come together. This division, this hatred, this ugliness has to end.

— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) October 24, 2018

The former vice president discussed the matter during a speech Thursday night in Buffalo.

Biden’s daughter, Ashley, who works as the executive director for the Wilmington-based Delaware Center for Justice, said in a text message to WHYY, “Scary times. Still investigating.” She declined to comment further.

About 8:30 a.m., police initially blocked off access to the industrial center where the facility is located, but the area was completely reopened by 9 a.m. A state police bomb squad truck could be seen near the loading dock.

Reginald Wade, a U.S. postal inspector from Philadelphia, said the FBI was assisting county and state police, but would only say they were conducting a “law enforcement activity.’’

A few miles from Biden’s home, authorities cordoned off the small post office at 1500 Lancaster Avenue in Wilmington, where a source told the AP that the other package had been sent.  Around 11:30 a.m. police wheeled a robotic device from the post office to their van behind the facility.

Yellow caution tape roped off the property and at least five police vehicles from Wilmington, New Castle County, and the U.S. Post Office were parked on the perimeter.

Four Wilmington police officers stood outside near their SUVs about 8:45 a.m.

“That’s why we’re here — suspicious package. That was the original call and we’re on the perimeter,’’ said one officer in the Wilmington K9 unit who would not identify himself.

Outside the Wilmington post office, neighborhood resident Danielle Ward observed the police activity and said it distressed her that someone would send such packages to officials, including Biden. She worried that people could be in the post office that she used, and get injured or killed if one exploded.

“It’s scary, a scary time,’’ Ward said.

Vance Thorpe, who lives in the block across the street from the post office, agreed.

“I just think it’s crazy,’’ he said. “It takes my mind back to when we had the Unabomber going around, almost like a copycat or a repeat, but this time, it’s officials.”

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WHYY reporter Zöe Read and the Associated Press contributed reporting.

This is a developing story.