DEVELOPING: Man with Bomb Strapped to His Chest Takes at Least One Hostage at Chase Bank in Bakersfield, California

A man with a bomb strapped to his chest has taken at least one hostage at a Chase Bank in Bakersfield, California.

A dozen police vehicles were outside the Chase Bank on 17th Street and Chester Avenue.

An unidentified man barricaded himself inside the bank and has taken at least one hostage.

“An unidentified male subject is currently barricaded with an unknown number of members of our community, ”Sergeant Eric Celedon of the Bakersfield Police Department told ABC 23. “Every single resource is at this site’s disposal.”

KGET reported:

Police in Bakersfield, California, say they’re responding to an “active” bomb threat and hostage situation at a Chase Bank in the city’s downtown area.

A man has barricaded himself within the Chase Bank with an unknown number of people, Sgt. Eric Celedon of the Bakersfield Police Department told Nexstar’s KGET. Police were notified at around 1 p.m. local time that the man had made a threat at the bank.

Police are now asking the community to avoid the area.

Several city buildings have been placed on lockdown until further notice, authorities said. That includes City Hall North, City Hall South, the Development Services Building, and Bakersfield Police Headquarters.

The Hall of Records building has been evacuated.

WATCH:

BREAKING: A man with a bomb allegedly strapped to his chest has taken at least one hostage inside a Chase Bank in Bakersfield, California, prompting lockdowns nearby. Police say they are actively negotiating. pic.twitter.com/vUNyLIxBiO

— CBS Evening News with Tony Dokoupil (@CBSEveningNews) June 2, 2026

DEVELOPING…