Car rams into FBI office entrance in ‘targeted attack’
A man who drove a car into the gates of the FBI’s Pittsburgh office early on Wednesday in what the agency called a targeted attack has been detained, the authorities have announced.
The incident occurred at 2:40am local time on Wednesday, the FBI said. No one was injured.
The suspect, identified as Donald Henson of Penn Hills, Pennsylvania, retrieved an American flag from his white sedan and threw it onto the damaged gate before fleeing on foot, according to an earlier statement from the agency.
Several hours later, the FBI confirmed that Henson had been apprehended.
Speaking during a press briefing, FBI Special Agent in Charge Christopher Giordano stated that the authorities were treating the incident “as an act of terror against the FBI,” as quoted by ABC News.
According to Giordano, there was “some vulgarity” inscribed on the side of the vehicle, though no details have been made available. He added, however, that the message was apparently a reference to suicide.
Giordano told reporters that the man, who had been identified as the registered owner of the sedan in question, had previously served in the military.
The official suggested that the suspect may recently have been experiencing mental health issues. According to Giordano, Henson had visited the FBI Pittsburgh office within the last few weeks to lodge a complaint which “didn’t make a whole lot of sense.”
