Explosive devices have been found in mail sent to Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama, according to US officials.

Investigators believe the explosive sent to the former secretary of state is linked to the one found on Monday at the home of billionaire philanthropist George Soros.

The device was found at the Clintons' residence in Chappaqua, New York, on Wednesday morning.

New Castle police said they assisted the FBI, Secret Service and Westchester County authorities in "the investigation of a suspicious package".

Officials said the package sent to Mr Obama was discovered at his home in Washington.


In a statement, the Secret Service said it had intercepted two suspicious packages addressed to "protectees".

It said: "The Secret Service recovered a single package addressed to former first lady Hillary Clinton in Westchester County, New York.... a second package addressed to the residence of former president Barack Obama was intercepted by Secret Service personnel in Washington DC.

"The packages were immediately identified during routine mail screening procedures as potential explosive devices and were appropriately handled as such.

"The protectees did not receive the packages nor were they at risk of receiving them.

"The Secret Service has initiated a full scope criminal investigation that will leverage all available federal, state, and local resources to determine the source of the packages and identify those responsible."

More follows...