Man threatens U.S. Senate building leap

Tag : Building Glass


Police were using a Chinese translator to try to coax the man froma ledge on the outside of the glass wall overlooking the building'satrium, The Hill newspaper reported.

"We don't know very much right now," said Senate Sergeant at ArmsTerrance Gainer, though he added police had previous contact withthe man. "We don't know what his issue is or what office hevisited. The police are trying to calm the situation and see if wecan get him on the right side of the rail."

Emergency workers were erecting safety equipment should he decideto leap, Gainer said.

"Hopefully it won't come to that," he said.

While the atrium was closed off, the building was not evacuated,the newspaper said. The seventh floor of the Hart building holdsthe offices of 14 senators, including Democratic presidentialcandidate Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill.

Copyright 2008 by United Press International