Man in ‘panda suit’ shot in TV station standoff: US report

WASHINGTON — 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 on Thursday (April 28) before being shot by police, the network reported.

Photo: AP

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 2pm, US time (April 29, 2am, Singapore time) 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. AFP