SWAT Dispatched to Discovery Communications Headquarters, Possible Hostage-Taking

SILVER SPRING, Md. -- CNN reports that police have confirmed the taking of at least one hostage at the Discovery Communications world headquarters in Silver Spring, Md. The hostage-taker is in the lobby area of the building at One Discovery Place.

SWAT was dispatched to Discovery Communications headquarters in Silver Spring, Md. after Montgomery County police received reports of an armed man who may be carrying explosives. The streets surrounding the Discovery Communications headquarters have been closed due to the police action. Police have confirmed that hostages may have been taken in the Discovery Communications building.

There are conflicting reports on the status of employees in the building, with one report indicating that employees were evacuated and another stating the building is locked-down with employees sheltering in place in their offices.

The suspect in the Discovery Communications headquarters incident is said to be an Asian male who entered the lobby about 1:10 pm and may have said, "Nobody is going anywhere," according to a report of a police statement to ABC 7's Brad Bell.

Eight blocks from Discovery Communications, I can hear helicopters circling and heard a siren a short time ago. Neighbors have reported on the listserve seeing police in front of Discovery Communications. With children due to get out of school within the half hour, a hostage taking so close to home is unnerving. It's one of those times I am glad my children have cell phones so I can contact them and alert them to avoid the area they so often frequent.