'Fake News' hater arrested after threatening to attack CNN headquarters, kill employees

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published 23 January 2018

The FBI has arrested an unidentified Michigan man who allegedly called CNN 22 times about a week ago and threatened to stage a mass shooting at CNN headquarters, Atlanta CBS affiliate WGCL-TV reported Monday, citing federal court documents. The man began by telling a CNN operator, "Fake news. I'm going to gun you all down," the court documents say, and later threats included: "I have more guns that you. More manpower. Your cast is about to get gunned down in a matter of hours"; and "I am coming to Georgia right now to go to the CNN headquarters to f---ing gun every single last one of you."

The FBI traced the calls to a house in the Detroit suburbs and arrested the man. "We take any threats to CNN employees or workplaces, around the world, extremely seriously," CNN said in a statement. "This one is no exception. We have been in touch with local and federal law enforcement throughout, and have taken all necessary measures to ensure the safety of our people." President Trump has repeatedly called CNN "fake news" and gave the network four of the 11 citations in his "Fake News Awards" last week.

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Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.