San Diego bomb threat: Police evacuate office of Senator Kamala Harris and 'San Diego Union-Tribune'

More than half-a-dozen suspicious packages have been sent to high-profile people

A San Diego building containing the offices of Democratic senator Kamala Harris and the San Diego Union-Tribune newspaper have been evacuated after reports of a suspicious package – the latest in a series of such reports that have put the country on edge.

Following reports of suspicious packages being discovered in the mail handling facilities at the homes of Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton, and CNN’s New York offices, staff in San Diego were were ordered to leave the building.

Reporter Kate Morrissey tweeted a picture of police tape and five boxes outside the building. “Suspicious package outside the @sdut building this morning,” she wrote.

Fox News in San Diego said it was not immediately clear where the packages were delivered. One member of staff of the newspaper said an item that looked like at bicycle pump was found near the boxes.

The package was later found not to be a device, with Ms Harris' office saying it was not addressed to the senator.

The office building, at 600 B Street, were evacuated after the alarm was raised at around 8.30am local time.

The evacuation of the building in San Diego, followed reports that suspicious mail found in the offices of Florida Democrat Debbie Wasserman Schultz also sparked an investigation. It was reported that the package had been addressed to former attorney general Eric Holder rather than Ms Schultz. A spokeswoman later confirmed they were not addressed to Ms Schultz.

A bomb was delivered earlier this week to the suburban New York home of George Soros, a major Democratic Party donor. The New York Times said a law enforcement official said the devices sent to Mr Soros, the Obamas, the Clintons and CNN were similar.

Former President Bill Clinton was home when the device was intercepted at a Secret Service facility not near the Clintons’ home, but Ms Clinton was in Florida attending fundraising events, according to media reports.