NPR - but WOW - hostage situation at Discovery Channel Building in MD

BREAKING NEWS

SILVER SPRING, Md. — A gunman with an explosive device strapped to himself has entered the Discovery Communications building in Silver Spring, Md., and may have taken at least one person hostage, police said.

Montgomery County police said there may also be other explosives in the building, but they said they could not confirm reports that one or more shots had been fired.

Law enforcement authorities identified the man as James J. Lee. They told NBC News that he had a long history of protesting at the building. NBC said the man may have posted environmental and population-control demands online.

Discovery Communications reaches about 1.5 billion subscribers in more than 180 countries with the Discovery Channel, TLC, Animal Planet, Science Channel and Planet Green networks.

NBC News reported that employees from the eighth and ninth floors had been evacuated and were now about a block away from the building.

Julienne Gage, who works in the building, told msnbc cable TV that she didn’t hear any shots fired. She described security at the building as including cameras, as well as a receptionist and a security guard at the front entrance.

Roads in the normally busy urban center at the intersection of Colesville Road and Georgia Avenue on the edge of Washington were closed and police cars and emergency vehicles blocked access. Witnesses said SWAT teams and law enforcement from several areas were at the scene.

“It’s pretty chaotic,” Tariq Warner, a photographer for NBC station WRC-TV, said on msnbc. He said a woman ran past him screaming.

Re: NPR - but WOW - hostage situation at Discovery Channel Building in MD

So scary!! I hope all the people will be ok!!

Re: NPR - but WOW - hostage situation at Discovery Channel Building in MD

its crazy. i was just down there earlier dropping DH off at the metro station which is 2 blocks away.

Re: NPR - but WOW - hostage situation at Discovery Channel Building in MD

how horrible...I will pray for everyone's safety!

Re: NPR - but WOW - hostage situation at Discovery Channel Building in MD

I have 3 friends that work based out of the HQ

One is in Bermuda on vaca, one escaped building by going down stairwell and one I haven't heard from yet

Re: NPR - but WOW - hostage situation at Discovery Channel Building in MD

Posted by annoyedTTCer

I have 3 friends that work based out of the HQ

One is in Bermuda on vaca, one escaped building by going down stairwell and one I haven't heard from yet

Re: NPR - but WOW - hostage situation at Discovery Channel Building in MD

[Updated at 2:19 p.m.] The Discovery Channel day care has been evacuated to a nearby area, according to CNN affiliate WJLA. The day care had about 100 kids, WJLA reported.

Re: NPR - but WOW - hostage situation at Discovery Channel Building in MD

The suspect blames them for not doing more to help the planet. Really!


Police: James J. Lee is Discovery suspect

James J. Lee, the man believed to be holding hostages at the Discovery Building in Silver Spring, has long blamed the TV company for not doing more to help the planet.

In March 2008, he was given six months of supervised probation and fined $500 after he was arrested during a protest outside Discovery.

Lee said he was inspired by a novel by Daniel Quinn called “My Ishmael” that he has interpreted to mean that the planet’s birthrate must be drastically reduced and immigration to the United States must be halted completely.

His arrest came after Lee was found throwing thousands of dollars in the air outside the building. The Gazette newspapers reported after the sentencing that Lee said he threw the cash to show that ‘‘money means nothing. Money is trash.”

The Gazette said Lee spent nearly two weeks in jail after the arrest and several days being evaluated by state psychiatrists. ‘‘I told them my idea of saving the planet,” Lee said. ‘‘They couldn’t find anything wrong with me.”

Lee lived in San Diego and Hawaii before moving to the Washington area. He has said he funded his activities by selling his properties in Hawaii.

Re: NPR - but WOW - hostage situation at Discovery Channel Building in MD

so sad

Re: NPR - but WOW - hostage situation at Discovery Channel Building in MD

My office is across the street from this building. I REALLY hope that everything is okay and no one is injured. I'm not even sure if my co-workers are able to leave the office at this point. All of the roads in the area are shut down.

Re: NPR - but WOW - hostage situation at Discovery Channel Building in MD

Posted by annoyedTTCer

I have 3 friends that work based out of the HQ

One is in Bermuda on vaca, one escaped building by going down stairwell and one I haven't heard from yet

Re: NPR - but WOW - hostage situation at Discovery Channel Building in MD

Posted by LML

Posted by annoyedTTCer

I have 3 friends that work based out of the HQ

One is in Bermuda on vaca, one escaped building by going down stairwell and one I haven't heard from yet

I hope that your friend is okay!

Message edited 9/1/2010 4:34:34 PM.

Re: NPR - but WOW - hostage situation at Discovery Channel Building in MD