FBI kills US army veteran who strapped bombs to hostages in overnight stand-off
A US Army veteran took 10 hostages in a California bank, strapping explosives to some of them. After a 15-hour standoff, the FBI's hostage rescue team intervened, resulting in the death of the hostage-taker. All hostages were reported physically unharmed, though they may face psychological impacts from the ordeal.
- ▪Anthony Searles-Harris, 41, took hostages in a Chase Bank building in Bakersfield.
- ▪He was a convicted sex offender with a history of violence and claimed to have bombs.
- ▪The FBI's hostage rescue team neutralized Searles-Harris after negotiations stalled.
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FBI kills US army veteran who strapped bombs to hostages in overnight stand-offSign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inboxPolice said the hostage-taker, a convicted sex offender, barricaded himself and the hostages inside the building during the 15-hour standoff.PHOTO: BAKERSFIELD POLICE DEPARTMENT/XPublished Jun 04, 2026, 04:44 AMUpdated Jun 04, 2026, 04:51 AMListenBAKERSFIELD, California - A US Army veteran who took 10 people hostage in a California bank building, tying some up and strapping explosives to them, was dead on June 3 after FBI specialists moved in.A 15-hour stand-off began when Anthony Searles-Harris, 41, walked into a Chase Bank building in Bakersfield around lunchtime on June 2 with what he said were bombs.Police said Searles-Harris – a convicted sex…
Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at The Straits Times.