WASHINGTON , United States (AFP) — A man wearing what appeared to be a full-body bear costume threatened to blow up a local Fox TV station in the US city of Baltimore Thursday before being shot by police, the network reported.
Fox45’s website showed images of the suspect, who claimed to have a bomb, seated inside the premises of the station, which was evacuated during the standoff.
The Baltimore, Maryland station, also known locally as WBFF, said the man entered the building around 2 pm (1800 GMT) demanding news coverage of what he described as a case of government conspiracy.
“He talked to me and was wearing what appears to be a full-body white panda suit, surgical mask and sunglasses,” FOX45 News Director Mike Tomko was quoted as saying.
“He had a flash drive, said he had information he wanted to get on the air. He compared it to the information found in the Panama Papers.”
A little more than an hour later, the man was seen lying on the ground outside the station, after what the channel described as three loud shots.
Outside the building, a car believed to belong to the suspect was burning after he reportedly set it ablaze before entering the building.
The suspect’s identity and condition were not immediately known.
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