Reuters
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NOS News•yesterday, 20:20•Amended today, 00:49
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An armed man attempted to enter an FBI office in Cincinnati, Ohio. After an hours-long chase, police shot him, Ohio authorities said. The man later succumbed to his injuries.
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According to local authorities, attempts have been made to negotiate with the man in an attempt to arrest him. When that failed and the man pulled out a gun, he was shot. His motive is still unknown.
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American media reports that it is a 42-year-old man who may have been involved in the January riots around the Capitol. It would also be investigated whether he has ties with right-wing extremist groups, including the Proud Boys organization, which was involved to the Capitol storming plan.
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The man was equipped with an automatic weapon and a nail gun. When he tried to break into the FBI office with that, the alarm was triggered and he fled. The chase led to Wilmington, 80 kilometers away, where the suspect tried to hide in a cornfield.
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house search
The attempt to break into the FBI building comes at a time when many threats are being made against the federal police. Monday searched the FBI Donald Trump’s Florida home in search of documents containing state secrets Trump allegedly took from the White House. Trump supporters see the FBI’s investigation as politically motivated.
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The judge who approved the search has been threatened many times. Trump supporters outside and within politics have called for the FBI to “destroy” and even start a civil war. The US security services are therefore very alert to all threats posed by individuals and institutions involved in the Trump investigation.
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FBI integrity
The FBI has advised staff not to approach protesters and not to visibly wear agency passes. FBI Director Christopher Wray now says, in response to the thwarted attack in Ohio, that such actions “violate respect for the rule of law” and be a hard blow to “the men and women who sacrifice so much to protect others.”
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US Attorney General Merrick Garland said a few hours after the incident that he is deeply concerned that the FBI’s integrity is being questioned. “Under my leadership, the law will be applied equally to everyone, without fear and without favors,” he said in an added press conference.
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Garland did not comment on the FBI’s investigation into Trump. He did say that he personally approved the search of the former president’s villa.
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As far as the US Department of Justice is concerned, the search warrant will be made public as soon as possible, because of “the great public interest” involved. A judge has to decide that, Trump can appeal.
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