US Capitol is on lockdown: Man claims he has a BOMB in his pickup truck as he livestreams himself outside Library of Congress and rants 'The South is coming for you, Joe'
The US Capitol was put on lockdown Thursday as a man in truck told police he had a bomb, while a live stream appeared to show the man making an anti-government rant and telling Joe Biden 'The South is coming for you'.
The man parked his truck outside the front of the Library of Congress' Jefferson Building, prompting a massive law enforcement response.
Police have sent negotiators to engage with the man in the truck.
Capitol Police Chief Tom Manger said in a press conference: 'I know some information has come out on live streams... my negotiators are hard at work trying to have a peaceful resolution to this incident.'
In the live stream - which has not been confirmed by police, the man says: 'I love this land. We got a few options here Joe. You shoot me, two and half blocks are going with me. And then you’re talking about a revolution. The Revolution is on.'
The man is seen with a large barrel, with what appears to be a button on top of it.
Describing the device to the camera, the man says: 'I know you're watching me. These wires on the side out this side right here, these run down to these wires. This is Tannerite. I'm sure they know what it is. Just come and talk to me Joe.'
Tannerite is a binary explosive used for firearms practice.
In the live stream - which has not been confirmed by police, the man says: 'We got a few options here Joe. You shoot me, two and half blocks are going with me'
A witness also posted a picture to Twitter which showed the same man in a truck, after he tossed dollar bills out of the window
Staff at the Madison and Jefferson office buildings were initially told to shelter in place, but later advised to evacuate toward the Second Street side of the building, away from First Street, where the truck is parked.
Police have also evacuated the Cannon House Office Building and the Supreme Court building.
Congress is on break this week, and staffers were seen calmly walking out of the area at the direction of authorities.
A witness also posted a picture to Twitter which showed the same man in a truck, after he tossed dollar bills out of the window.
Sydney Bobb, who took the picture, told the Independent: 'I was walking on that block because that’s where I go to class. He was shouting that he had a bomb. And then he threw money out the side of the truck.'
The driver parked the truck on sidewalk outside the library at 9.15am, and informed the officer responding to a report of the disturbance that he had a bomb, Capitol Chief Manger reported at a news conference around noon.
Manger said, the officer reported that the man had what appeared to be a detonator in his hand. Manger said negotiations with the man were ongoing.
They were reportedly communicating with him as he wrote notes on a whiteboard and showed them to police from inside the truck.
Capitol Police Chief Tom Manger reported that a man had driven a pickup onto the sidewalk next to the Library of Congress Thursday morning, and told authorities he had a bomb. As of noon, he said, negotiations with the man were still ongoing
People are evacuated from the James Madison memorial building Thursday morning after reports of a possible explosive device found in a pickup truck outside the Library of Congress
The man in the pickup truck told police that he had an explosive device in his possession Thursday morning, prompting authorities to lock down the entire Capitol complex
Police blockaded the area around the building, which is near the Capitol and the Supreme court
US Capitol Police advised people to stay away from the area and police were sending in negotiators to engage with the driver of the pickup truck
In the live stream put on Facebook, the man says: 'I told my wife I’d be home by Sunday, and I’m looking for all my other patriots to come out and help me because I got it standing. I got the foundation built, people. I’m here.
'They know I’m here and I’ve done told them to clear the blocks.
'They’ve cut off healthcare. I can’t get the damn shots for my back no more, but yeah they’ll give them to the superstar athletes. They’ll give it to them.'
According to reports from the scene, the entire Capitol complex had been placed on lockdown
Police were investigating a report of a possible explosive device in a pickup truck outside the Library of Congress on Capitol Hill and have evacuated the area around the building
The law enforcement officials said investigators were at the scene and working to determine whether the device was an operable explosive. The officials were not authorized to publicly discuss the matter and spoke on condition of anonymity.
'This is an active bomb threat investigation,' the Capitol Police said on Twitter.
The Capitol Police asked anyone working in the Cannon congressional offices to leave and relocate to the neighboring Longworth building, while they had those in the Madison building bar themselves in their offices.
A staging area was set up for reporters at Constitution and First Street.
Capitol Hill reporters said the entire complex had been shut down.
US Capitol police have issued a warning for people to avoid the area around the Library of Congress
Staff at the Madison and Jefferson office buildings were initially told to shelter in place, and later advised to evacuate
Police are sending negotiators to engage with a man in the truck making the threat
The building is near the Capitol and the Supreme Court. Police have also evacuated the Cannon House Office Building. Congress is on break this week
The Jefferson building, part of the Library of Congress, was also evacuated.
The House of Representatives and Senate are not currently in session.
'The USCP is responding to a suspicious vehicle near the Library of Congress,' the Capitol Police wrote on Twitter. 'Please stay away from this area.'
It comes months after a pipe bomb was left at the headquarters of the Democratic National Committee and the Republican National Committee in Washington a day before thousands of pro-Trump rioters stormed the U.S. Capitol in January.
Once again, you are spreading lies and disinformation. the man told police he loved biden
ReplyDeleteConveniently fitting the domestic terrorist narrative. I'm calling bullshit.
ReplyDeleteDistraction, right when one is needed.
Delete