An armed man exchanged gunfire with police officers after he made threats at an FBI building in Cincinnati, several news outlets reported Thursday.
The incident began when the man, armed with a gun and wearing body armor, attempted to force his way into the FBI building Thursday morning and began making threats to agents, the FBI said in a statement.
“At approximately 9 AM this morning an armed subject attempted to breach the Visitor Screening Facility at #FBI Cincinnati,” the FBI’s Cincinnati bureau said on Twitter. “After an alarm and a response by FBI special agents, the subject fled north onto Interstate 71.”
Minutes later, police reported having exchanged gunfire with the suspect.
“Law enforcement has traded shots with a male suspect who is wearing a gray shirt and body armor,” the alert said.
At approximately 9 AM this morning an armed subject attempted to breach the Visitor Screening Facility at #FBI Cincinnati. After an alarm and a response by FBI special agents, the subject fled north onto Interstate 71. pic.twitter.com/vFZHnpbM9L
— FBI Cincinnati (@FBICincinnati) August 11, 2022
The FBI has faced increased threats over the past couple days after Trump and his Republican allies launched a furious attack against the law enforcement agency and the Justice Department following the execution of a search warrant at Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago residence. The search appeared to be related to classified material Trump brought with him after he left the White House.
Christopher Wray, who was appointed by Trump, said threats circulating online against the agency were “deplorable and dangerous.”
This is a developing story and will be updated.