Trump calls for more civility in politics

President Donald Trump has called on people to be more civil in politics, after a series of suspected explosives were sent to high-profile US figures.

He was speaking after parcels were sent to CNN and top Democrats, including Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton.

None of the packages exploded. The FBI has launched a hunt for their sender.

The president’s critics called his latest remarks hypocritical, as he often uses vicious language against his opponents and the press.

Speaking at a Wednesday night rally in Wisconsin, the president vowed to catch the perpetrator and called on the media to “stop endless hostility”.

“Those engaged in political arena must stop treating political opponents as being morally defective,” he said.

“No one should carelessly compare political opponents to historic villains, which is done often,” he added.

However, the president made no specific reference to the intended recipients of the packages.

Earlier CNN worldwide president Jeff Zucker criticised President Trump and the White House press secretary for not understanding that “words matter”.

“There is a total and complete lack of understanding at the White House about the seriousness of their continued attacks on the media,” he said.

Suspected bombs were sent to locations in New York, the Washington DC area and Florida, authorities said on Wednesday.

Explosive devices were sent to the following individuals, according to the latest FBI statement:

 Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton

 Former President Barack Obama

 Former CIA Director John Brennan, care of CNN

 Former Attorney General Eric Holder

 California Democratic Congresswoman Maxine Waters

 Liberal philanthropist and financier George Soros (on Monday)

CNN’s New York office was evacuated on Wednesday morning after the package, addressed to Mr Brennan, was found in its mailroom.

Another package, believed to have been addressed to former Vice-President Joe Biden, is being sought by US federal investigators.

All the apparent targets are regularly criticised by conservatives – especially by President Trump.

Some Democrats have accused the president of inciting violence with his past rhetoric, while some of his supporters have said they believe the packages are part of a Democratic plot to win votes in the mid-term elections.

There is no evidence for this and the police have not released any information about any suspects.

The attempted attacks come just under two weeks before the mid-terms, with US politics highly polarised.