Donald Trump has accused the media of trying to “score political points” by reporting on the suspect arrested in connection with the mail bomb scare targeting CNN and high-profile Democrats.

Mr Trump launched another attack on the press for coverage of the suspect accused of sending a series of pipe bombs to the president's critics – including Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton.

Speaking at a political rally in North Carolina on Friday night, Mr Trump called for an end to the “politics of personal destruction".

He told supporters: “We have seen an effort by the media to use the sinister actions of one individual to score political points against me and the Republicans.”

His address came just hours after Cesar Sayoc, 56, was arrested in Florida after at least 13 packages containing explosive devices and pipe bombs explosive devices were sent to a number of targets – including Democrat donor George Soros and actor Robert de Niro.

Just hours after the arrest, Mr Trump lashed out at the media, as well as his 2016 opponent Mrs Clinton, calling her “Crooked Hillary”, which prompted a round of “Lock her up” chants.

His comments also incited frequent chants of “CNN sucks” from the crowd.

The discovery of an explosive device prompted the evacuation of CNN’s offices in New York on Wednesday. A second scare on Thursday evening saw another partial evacuation.

The president has been on a rally blitz hoping to help vulnerable Republicans ahead of the midterm elections on 6 November. He is planning at least 10 rallies before the elections.

Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events

Mr Trump had told reporters as he left Washington that he had no plans to tone down his rhetoric and added: “I could really tone it up.

“Because, as you know, the media has been extremely unfair to me and to the Republican Party.”

Explosive packages sent to prominent Democrats and CNN Show all 11 1 /11 Explosive packages sent to prominent Democrats and CNN Explosive packages sent to prominent Democrats and CNN Barack Obama The Secret Service intercepted a package en route to the Washington D.C. residence of former President Barack Obama on Wednesday 23 October Getty Explosive packages sent to prominent Democrats and CNN Hillary and Bill Clinton A package was delivered to the Chappaqua, New York home of former US President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State and Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton on Tuesday 23 October Getty Explosive packages sent to prominent Democrats and CNN Joe Biden Two packages adressed to former Vice-president Joe Biden were found at a sorting facility in Delaware on Thursday 25 October AFP/Getty Explosive packages sent to prominent Democrats and CNN George Soros A package was delivered to the New York home of Billionaire investor and funder of the Democrats George Soros on Monday 22 October AFP/Getty Explosive packages sent to prominent Democrats and CNN CNN and John Brennan A package was delivered to former CIA director John Brennan at the CNN offices in New York on Wednesday 23 October Getty Explosive packages sent to prominent Democrats and CNN Debbie Wasserman Schultz A package was delivered to the office of Democratic Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz on Wednesday 23 October, it was addressed to former attorney general Eric Holder Getty Explosive packages sent to prominent Democrats and CNN Eric Holder The package that was delivered to the office of Democratic Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz was addressed to former attorney general Eric Holder Getty Explosive packages sent to prominent Democrats and CNN Maxine Waters Two packages were sent to Democratic congresswoman Maxine Waters on Wednesday 23 October, one to LA one to D.C. Getty Explosive packages sent to prominent Democrats and CNN Robert De Niro A package was delivered to actor Robert De Niro in New York on Thursday 25 October AFP/Getty Explosive packages sent to prominent Democrats and CNN Cory Booker A package found in Florida was addressed to Democratic Senator Cory Booker on Friday 26 October Getty Explosive packages sent to prominent Democrats and CNN James Clapper NYPD intercepted a package addressed to former directo of national intelligence James Clapper on on Friday 26 October AFP/Getty

Earlier in the day, Mr Trump in a tweet accused the CNN of blaming him for the bomb scares.

Mr Sayoc, who has now been charged with the offence, is a registered Republican voter, according to public records.