What we know — and don't know — about the explosive devices targeting Democrats and CNN

WASHINGTON (AP) — The packages arrived in familiar manila envelopes affixed with lots of stamps, some bearing the American flag. But what was inside was alarming: crude pipe bombs wrapped in black tape, with wires sprouting from each end.

None of the explosives detonated, and no one was hurt. But authorities quickly launched a wide-ranging investigation into the devices that targeted multiple Democrats — including two former presidents — and foes of President Donald Trump's administration ahead of the Nov. 6 midterm elections.

All the confirmed bombs appeared to come from the same person or persons, said John Miller, the New York Police Department's head of intelligence and counterterrorism, who briefed reporters in New York.

A bomb squad removed another device from CNN's New York headquarters, which was evacuated.

A suspicious device was found Monday at the New York compound of billionaire George Soros, a major contributor to Democratic causes. A U.S. official told the AP that investigators believe the explosive discovered near the Clintons' home was linked to the one at the compound.

All of the envelopes listed Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz as the return address. The FBI also said it was responding to a report of a suspicious package at one of Schultz's offices in Florida.

Rep. Maxine Waters said her Washington office was also the target of a suspicious package. It was not immediately clear if that package was related to the other devices.

How dangerous the bombs were. It's unclear what, if anything, was inside the pipes. Also unclear is whether they were actually processed through the mail or delivered some other way. Officials on Wednesday did not know if there are other devices out there, undelivered.

The discovery of the devices comes at a tense time, with Republicans and Democrats casting each other as a "mob" that would do anything to win or keep control of Congress in two weeks.

Larry Johnson, a former head of criminal investigations for the U.S. Secret Service who also served as a special agent in charge of the presidential protective detail, said that bomb makers usually leave evidence behind. "If there is a human involved, there is a high probability you're going to get somewhere investigatively," he said. "There will be no stone left unturned."