A dramatic incident unfolded early Wednesday, September 17, 2025, in Pittsburgh when a driver deliberately rammed a car into a security gate at the local FBI building. Following the crash, the individual reportedly removed an American flag from the vehicle’s back seat, threw it over the gate, and then left the scene. Authorities have since confirmed that a suspect has been taken into custody.
FBI spokesperson Bradford Arick stated that the man was apprehended after 10 a.m., though specific details regarding the arrest were not immediately released.
The vehicle struck the gate at approximately 2:40 a.m., prompting an immediate response from law enforcement, including the deployment of a bomb squad to assess the situation. Fortunately, no explosives were discovered at the site.
“We are treating this as an act of terror against the FBI,” declared Christopher Giordano, assistant special agent in charge of the FBI in Pittsburgh. He emphasized the deliberate nature of the incident, calling it “a targeted attack on this building.” While grateful that no one was injured, Giordano affirmed the FBI’s commitment to utilizing every legal means to identify, apprehend, and prosecute the individual responsible to the fullest extent of the law.
Giordano further disclosed that investigators currently have no information regarding the suspect’s motive. He did note that the FBI was already familiar with the man, who is a former member of the military. The individual had previously visited the FBI field office a few weeks prior to file a complaint that, according to Giordano, “didn’t make a whole lot of sense.”
The car involved in the incident reportedly bore some form of message on one of its side windows, though officials did not provide further details on its content.