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Explosive device found outside George Soros's home

George Soros has been a regular target of anti-Semitic smears - EPA Pool
George Soros has been a regular target of anti-Semitic smears - EPA Pool

The FBI has opened a terrorism investigation after an explosive device was left outside the home of billionaire philanthropist George Soros

Mr Soros, a high profile Democratic Party donor, has been a regular target of far-right and anti-Semitic conspiracy theories due to his support for liberal causes.

Laura Silber, a spokeswoman for his Open Society Foundations urged politicians to "tone down their rhetoric" in the wake of the apparent attempted attack.  

A device resembling a pipe bomb and loaded with black powder was found outside Mr Soros' suburban New York home, law enforcement officials said on Tuesday.

US officials have not commented on whether any specific group is being investigated.

The FBI proactively detonated the device near the house in Katonah, a hamlet of Bedford, New York, and have launched an investigation to track down the culprits.

The bomb was found in the mailbox by one of Mr Soros' staff at around 3.45 pm on Monday but it is unclear whether it was delivered in the post or by hand.

The 88-year-old was not at home at the time and no one was injured in the incident.

"An employee of the residence opened the package, revealing what appeared to be an explosive device," Bedford Police said in a statement.

George Soros has funded liberal causes across the world - Credit: Reuters
George Soros has funded liberal causes across the world Credit: Reuters

The member of staff placed the suspicious package in a wooded area and called the police, a spokesman said.

Bedford police said they have now handed the investigation over to the FBI's Joint Terrorism Task Force.

The FBI's New York field office said on Twitter that there was "no threat to public safety."

Officials are still investigating whether the device was intended to go off, although they stated it "had the components" of an actual bomb, including explosive powder.

"The components were there for an explosive device," said one unnamed official. "It was not a hoax device." 

The official said the investigators were reviewing surveillance footage to establish how the package arrived at the property.

Bedford police said they have now handed the investigation over to the FBI's Joint Terrorism Task Force.

The FBI's New York field office said on Twitter that there was "no threat to public safety."

Mr Soros, whose family is Jewish and survived Nazi-occupied Hungary, emigrated to the US and went on to become one of the country's most successful investors.

The businessman, who regularly donates to liberal causes across the world, was recently accused by conservative critics of secretly financing a caravan of Central American migrants making its way toward the US.

He has also been the target of anti-Semitic smears, including being falsely accused of being a Nazi collaborator during World War II, when he was a child in Hungary.

Activists frequently post the addresses of homes he owns in Westchester County, north of New York City, on social media sometimes along with threats.

"Soros is seen as the boogeyman on just about every right-wing conspiracy theory floating out there," said JJ MacNab, a domestic extremism expert at George Washington University. "The sheer volume of chatter makes it probable that someone acted on key figures, mainstream figures, pointing the finger at him. Usually this stuff would just float around on the Internet, but in today's climate it's mainstream, where you have elected officials spouting conspiracy theories."

Mr Soros has been a favourite target of Glenn Beck and other conservative commentators, who have accused him of waging war against capitalism and having a secret agenda to destabilise the US government. 

Earlier this month Donald Trump, the US president, claimed that demonstrators protesting against his Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh were “paid professionals" who were "paid for by Soros and others".

Political figures across the world sent messages of support on Tuesday. Republican senator Rand Paul said: "Violence and mob attacks are the same whether leveled at someone you like or your political adversary. They should all be condemned and stood up to. "

Chuck Schumer, the most senior Democrat in the US Senate, said: "Make no mistake: Despicable acts of violence and harassment are being carried out by radicals across the political spectrum—not just by one side. Regardless of who is responsible, these acts are wrong and must be condemned by Democrats and Republicans alike."

While Guy Verhofstadt, the European parliament's Brexit coordinator, said: "This is what the campaign against Soros by Orbán, Farage and the alt-right leads to. Their anti-Semitic laced slurs and propaganda are dangerous. When will they stop?"