Tottenham Court Road (HuffPo) Offices Evacuated Over 'Bomb Threat'

[Patsy Stone]

Source: Huffington Post UK

The Huffington Post UK building has been evacuated after a man reportedly wearing a gas canister threatened to blow himself up in the adjoining building.

Tottenham Court Road has been cordoned off. Armed police are attending the scene and police have sent a hostage negotiator, however police say it is unclear if there are any hostages with the man, reported to be 50-year-old Michael Green.

Police did not confirm or deny there were any snipers at the scene, saying: "It's not a matter than we ever discuss but we always deploy appropriate police resources to any incident."

UPDATE: Man arrested; more info at link.

Read more: http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/mobileweb/2012/04/27/tottenham-court-road-evacuated-bomb-threat_n_1458437.html

[raps]

1. What's in the adjoining building?

[Patsy Stone]

2. Something called HGV Logistics, as far as I can tell.

I saw the building referred to as Shropshire House.

[raps]

6. Truck driving school

That's what it seems to be. Wonder what the reason was.

[Patsy Stone]

7. Maybe they were supposed to come and pick him up?

There used to be a commercial for a truck driving school that ended, "...and if you don't have a ride, we'll come and pick you up!" Sorry, I couldn't resist.

[saras]

3. Is HuffPo rightwing enough that this is a conspiracy, or leftwing enough that this is a lone wolf?

It never seems to have much to do with the person themselves, it's always about their values. Right-wing terrorists are always lone wolves, and left-wing terrorists are always part of global conspiracies...

[GoneOffShore]

4. From the interview with a woman he first encountered at the logistics firm

He came into the office asking for her.

She described him as one of their former clients who always was a bit "unstable".

Sounds like this isn't political at all - on either end of the spectrum.

[Patsy Stone]

5. I think the proximity to HuffPo is a coincidence

From the article and the comments, it seems it's all about a grudge with someone in the next building. But he did an excellent job of clearing a wide area and a few underground stations.

[Ian David]

8. The man was denied the British equivalent of a commercial truck driving license.

That is what Gizmodo was reporting as the cause of his rampage.

[Patsy Stone]

9. Thanks

As good a reason as any, I suppose. Oy.