Now Environmental Terrorism?

[bandit]

New form of terrorism?

Environmental Militant James Lee Identified as Suspect Who Has Taken Hostages at Discovery Headquarters - ABC News

A gunman, possibly carrying explosives and who police say is an enviornmental activist, has entered the headquarters of the Discovery Channel, fired shots and taken hostages, according to police and witnesses in Silver Spring, Md.


Law enforcement identified the suspect as James Lee, 43, from Washington, D.C., who has for at least two years called for protests against the company and who was arrested and found guilty of disorderly conduct for a protest outside of Discovery's headquarters in 2008.

Lee has posted a rambling manifesto on a website in which he rails against "disgusting human babies," "parasitic infants," and says people should "disassemble civilization."

Employees at the building were told to take cover in locked offices and police have sent SWAT teams to the area to seal off nearby roads.The FBI and agents from ATF, including explosives experts, also rushed to the building.

Chief J.T. Manger said police were in negotiations with Lee, but would not discuss his demands. Lee, he said, appeared to be carrying "metalic cannisters" on his back, which police are treating as as explosive device.

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"We have ongoing hostage situation," said Manger. "Negotiations have been going on for nearly an hour."

Manger said he believed most of the 1,900 employess had been evacuated as had all of the children in the building's daycare center.

Lee, he said, " has remained on first floor of Discovery building" and has taken several people hostage.

Earlier Capt. Paul Starks said there "may be other potential devices" with the gunman.

The captain said, "His concern is with the Discovery corporation."


One witness, project manager Ari Fisher said he returned to the building at 1 p.m. following lunch and peered into the lobby before being told to flee from the building.

Fisher says he saw the gunman holding a security guard at his side with as many as 12 hostages laying on the floor of the lobby.

"We couldn't see the weapon. We peered in and could make out his silhouette. We saw him holding a security guard at his side. There were other people on the floor, a dozen or so," Fisher told ABCNews.com from locked building across the street.

Others were trapped inside the suburban headquarters.

"Friends, I am in work closet with workers here. There is a shooter here at Discovery. I am ok," read a text from one Discovery employee.

Another employee said the Lee had taken a hostage. "The police are trying to get the situation under control!INSANE!" read the email to ABCNews.