Aventura Government Center Given All Clear Amid Bomb Concerns

AVENTURA, FL — The Aventura Government Center was evacuated for a time Wednesday afternoon after a suspicious package was found addressed to U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz. The Aventura package was among a spate of suspicious packages addressed to high-profile Democrats and CNN starting late Tuesday into Wednesday. Wasserman Schultz is a former chair of the Democratic National Committee.

"The suspicious package has been checked by @MiamiDadePD and @MiamiDadeFire And determined to be SAFE," Aventura police reported shortly after 4:30 p.m. "The package we received has no nexus to any of the other national incidents that occurred today. Roadway will be cleared soon." See also Prominent Democrats Targeted With Pipe Bombs In Terror By Mail

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Wasserman Schultz released a statement praising the response by law enforcement organizations and encouraged people with useful information to call the FBI at 800-CALL-FBI.

"We will not be intimidated by this attempted act of violence," she said. "This appalling attack on our democracy must be vigorously prosecuted, and I am deeply disturbed by the way my name was used. Today, my staff and I will hug each other and our loved ones tightly, and tomorrow get back to work serving the people I was elected to represent."

Other suspicious packages around the U.S. were addressed to former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and former President Barack Obama. An apparent live explosive device was addressed to former CIA director John Brennan in care of the CNN office in New York.

Meanwhile, yet another package was sent to the Sunrise, Florida office of Wasserman Schultz, while a suspicious package addressed to Congresswoman Maxine Waters was intercepted by U.S. Capitol Police in Washington, D.C.

Sgt. Chris Goranitis of the Aventura Police Department told Patch that Wasserman Schultz maintains an office in the five-story government center.

"The bomb squad just started so it's going to be a little while," Goranitis explained, referring to the Miami-Dade Police Department Bomb Squad. The all clear was issued a short time later.

He also said FBI agents were on the scene as was Miami-Dade Fire Rescue.

"It's just a suspicious-looking package and it's addressed to Congresswoman Schultz," Goranitis told Patch.

Photo of Aventura Government Center courtesy city of Aventura