Man takes hostages and threatens to bomb a bank in California

The authorities in California were attempting early on June 3 to free people being held hostage at a bank branch in the city of Bakersfield by a man they believe could be armed with a bomb.

The Bakersfield police department said in a statement that it had received a call around 1pm on June 2 about a bomb threat at a Chase Bank in the city’s downtown. A man had barricaded himself in the building with several people inside, the police said.

The number of hostages was unclear. Two people were released after negotiators communicated with the hostage-taker by phone, police said. No injuries had been reported, they added.

The FBI “assumed SWAT operations” in the stand-off late on June 2, according to Sally Selby, a spokesperson for the Bakersfield police, who did not give further details. The situation was still active as of the morning of June 3, according to an e-mailed update from the FBI’s Sacramento Field Office around 2.30am.

The agency had said earlier on social media that it was supporting the response.

In an e-mailed statement, Mayor Karen Goh of Bakersfield asked people to avoid the area to allow police officers and negotiators “to safely carry out their duties”.

The episode unfolded as primary elections took place in California. State Assembly member Jasmeet Bains, a Democratic candidate for Congress, cancelled an election night watch party that had been scheduled for June 2 in downtown Bakersfield. NYTIMES