PORTLAND, Ore.—The FBI warned Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler he was a potential target of the man suspected of sending pipe bombs to prominent Democrats and other opponents of President Donald Trump.
Shortly after the suspect, 56-year-old Cesar Sayoc Jr., was arrested last week, the FBI warned officials at city hall that he had researched Portland’s mayor.
"Our office was recently informed by the FBI that the pipe bomb suspect, did in fact research me and locations possibly associated with me," Wheeler tweeted Tuesday. "Our security team is aware and we are taking extra precautions regarding our safety."
Various news outlets, citing federal authorities, reported Sayoc had prepared a list of about 100 possible targets, including politicians and individuals.
Related: What we know about Cesar Sayoc, the Florida man suspected of mailing 12 suspicious packages
It is not clear where the list of possible targets was found. After his arrest on Friday, the FBI executed search warrants at a south Florida residence and a van where Sayoc was believed to have been living.
Sayoc is accused of mailing explosive devices after postal officials intercepted more than a dozen suspicious packages. Targets included Barack and Michelle Obama, Bill and Hillary Clinton, and other high-profile individuals who have been critical of Donald Trump.
So far, no suspicious packages have turned up in Oregon.
Sayoc’s Twitter account has been suspended, but an archive of old tweets shows he responded to a tweet from Wheeler in early August supporting sanctuary cities. In the reply, Sayoc called Wheeler “slime scum”.
It is not clear if the recent warning from the FBI was based on new information or old Twitter threats from the Florida man.
The FBI declined to comment on the investigation.
“We take all threats of violence seriously, and we encourage the community to report anything of concern to us or to our local partners,” said Beth Anne Steele, spokesperson for the FBI Portland office.