A Pennsylvania man named Donald Henson was arrested after he drove his car into a metal gate at the FBI building in Pittsburgh in the early hours of Wednesday, September 17, which federal law enforcement officials believe was intentional.
FBI Special Agent in Charge Christopher Giordano said during a press briefing that Henson allegedly drove at a high speed toward the main entrance gate at about 2:40 a.m., according to ABC News. Authorities shared that no one was injured in the collision.
Shortly after the incident took place, the FBI confirmed that Henson was apprehended “a short time ago.”
“We look at this as an act of terror against the FBI,” Giordano said. “This was a targeted attack on this building.”
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Henson’s vehicle had “some vulgarity” scrawled on the side, according to the FBI. It has not been revealed what exactly was written on the car, though Giordano said there appeared to be a reference to suicide.
The suspect fled the scene after the ramming. Giordano said it was not immediately clear if Henson was armed, though he was believed to be dangerous. Giordano also confirmed that Henson is the registered owner of the car.
Following the incident, the FBI compared surveillance video with Henson’s drivers license photo to identify him. Giordano shared that Henson is a former military member and it’s possible he could have been experiencing a mental health issue at the time of the collision.
The FBI went on to share that Henson allegedly exited the car after the accident and took an American flag out of the trunk before he stuck it on the gate.
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Just weeks before the incident, Henson visited the FBI office in Pittsburgh to make a complaint. Giordano said the complaint “didn’t make a whole lot of sense,” adding, “We contacted him and let him know that there was no federal crime we were able to charge.”
Pittsburgh Police Department officers responded to the 3300 block of E. Carson Street for a reported vehicle collision at about 3 a.m. on September 17, a spokesperson from the department told ABC News. The vehicle ran into a gate outside of the building, and the driver exited the vehicle before he fled the scene.
Police also said that the FBI is leading an ongoing investigation in the case, and Giordano explained they’re working with the local U.S. Attorneys Office to draft a complaint against Henson.
