On Thursday morning, an armed suspect reportedly made an attempt to enter the FBI’s Cincinnati, Ohio, headquarters.
The suspect ran away, leading to closures on Interstate 71 and state Route 73 as several law enforcement agencies pursued him. The suspect appeared to be travelling toward Columbus, the state capital.
“At approximately 9 AM this morning an armed subject attempted to breach the Visitor Screening Facility at #FBI Cincinnati,” the local FBI office shared on Twitter. “After an alarm and a response by FBI special agents, the subject fled north onto Interstate 71.”
Fox News stated that the attacker left the area after multiple shots were fired, but there were no immediate reports of injuries.
A short while later, the event at FBI headquarters was connected to a lockdown in the neighbouring county of Clinton, where locals were told to stay indoors and lock their doors.
Reporter Kelly Rippin shared an update, saying, “CONFIRMED: The situation in Clinton Co is tied an earlier threat at the FBI building in Cincinnati. FBI building is no longer a threat. Suspect armed with a gun was at the building. There was a pursuit that has now lead to the Clinton Co situation which is still unfolding.”
The suspect, who was a person wearing a grey shirt and appearing to be wearing body armour, had been recognised, according to Rippin.
Unconfirmed reports from further sources suggested that the perpetrator was still firing at law enforcement officers from a cornfield.
Later, according to MSNBC presenter Andrea Mitchell, the suspect had brandished an AR-15-style weapon after first approaching law officers with a nail gun, which he allegedly shot.