California: Bakersfield police respond to bomb threat as man barricades himself inside bank | California
A man barricaded himself inside a bank with an unknown number of people in the southern California city of Bakersfield, police said Tuesday.
A bomb was strapped to the body of an unidentified person. According to Bakersfield Now.
Sergeant Eric Celedon of the Bakersfield police department told ABC affiliate 23ABC that police responded to a bomb threat at a bank in downtown Bakersfield around 1 p.m.
Asked if the man was taking hostages, Celedon said, “I don’t use the H word.” “However, there is an unidentified male subject inside along with an unknown number of our community members and they are refusing to come out at this point.”
The municipality also issued an evacuation order in the area. Fox 11 Los Angeles.
“Please stay away from downtown,” Bakersfield police said. wrote on social media. “Road closures are in effect and will remain in effect until further notice.”
JPMorgan Chase spokesman Peter Kelley said the bank is working with law enforcement and is “focused on the safety of everyone involved.” He didn’t give any other details.
Several city buildings were placed on lockdown, including North City Hall, South City Hall, the Development Services Building and Bakersfield police headquarters.
According to media reports, approximately a dozen police cars, one tactical vehicle and several emergency responders were at the scene.
Bakersfield, a city of approximately 380,000 people, is the county seat of largely rural Kern County and is located approximately 100 miles (160km) northeast of Los Angeles.
