Tallahassee, October 26: In a major breakthrough for the federal authorities probing the parcel bombs sent to detractors of US President Donald Trump, a prime suspect was arrested on Friday morning from Fort Lauderdale, the coastal town in southeastern Florida.

The suspect, identified as 56-year-old Cesar Sayoc, was nabbed from the parking lot of an AutoZone store in Plantation. Locals near the AutoZone store claimed that they heard a loud explosion from the parking lot shortly before the federal police personnel came out and announced that one suspect has been arrested. Trump Critics Targeted Again, 'Suspicious Packages' Now Sent to Senator Cory Booker, Ex-Intel Chief James Clapper.

The U.S. Justice Department, to whom the federal authorities report, will hold a press conference to divulge more details about the first crackdown made in the parcel bombs case. More arrests are likely to follow, officials privy to the investigation told reporters in Washington.

So far, 12 noted Trump detractors have been targeted by suspected far-right elements. Among those who were attempted to be targeted with explosive-laden packages include former presidents Bill Clinton, Barack Obama, ex-vice president Joe Biden, former presidential candidate Hillary Clinton and nearly half a dozen top Democrats.

On Friday, two suspicious packages were intercepted by the authorities -- one at the New York City post office which was to be delivered to ex-intelligence chief James Clapper and second at at a mail sorting facility in Florida, addressed to US Senator Cory Booker.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation, which is involved in the investigation, said at least five of the explosive-laden packages bore a return address to Florida.

The parcel bombs have sharpened the divide in US polity, with Democrats blaming the "venomous rhetoric" of Trump for boosting xenophobic sentiments. The President on Wednesday, while addressing a campaign rally in Wisconsin, pitched for unity saying "such incidents (parcel bombs) are a direct attack on our democracy".

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Oct 26, 2018 10:44 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).