California Chase Bank LIVE: Man with 'bomb strapped to chest' takes hostage in Bakersfield

California Chase Bank LIVE: Man with 'bomb strapped to chest' takes hostage in Bakersfield A man is held up inside Chase Bank in Downtown Bakersfield, California with what appears to be a bomb strapped to his chest - police negotiators are already at the scene A man is held up inside a bank with what appears to be a bomb strapped to his chest, with armed police alredy spotted at the scene. The breaking incident is now unfolding at Chase Bank in Downtown Bakersfield, in the US state of California. It is understood at least one hostage has been taken. This is a breaking news event. Updates will be shared when we have them via our live blog below. Roughly a dozen police cars have been spotted at the outside the Chase Bank, located on the corner of 17th Street and Chester Avenue. As well as a dozen police cars, there is also at least one tactical vehicle, as well as multiple emergency responders and a police command centre vehicle seen outside the bank. A spokesperson for the Bakersfield Police Department has told The Californian officers are negotiating with the unidentified man as of 2pm on Tuesday. She said a report came at about 1pm that the man was inside the Chase Bank building at 17th Street and Chester Avenue. That prompted police to close H through L streets between Truxtun Avenue and 18th Street, evacuating all nearby buildings. "We know there's at least one hostage inside," the spokesperson said. Bakersfield Police Sargaent Eric Celedon told Nexstar’s KGET News that authorities were alerted to the threat at the bank at about 1pm local time.Its is now 3:17 pm, as per time of writing. Police are now asking the community to avoid the area. We've got fresh images from the scene at Chase Bank in downtown Bakersfield, where a breaking incident is now unfolding. A bank job is currently underway in Bakersfield, a city north of Los Angeles. Evacuations are now in progress, with police urging locals to steer clear of the area. Police said to stay clear of the area. A spokesperson for the City of Bakersfield said they are aware of an ongoing incident at a private property near several City buildings in downtown. As a precaution, City Hall North, City Hall South, the Development Services Building, and Bakersfield Police Headquarters have been thrown into lockdown until further notice. Bakersfield police have confirmed that an exclusion zone has now been put in place. Areas between 18th and Truxtun Avenue and Chester to H Streets are now closed due to a bomb threat within the area. It is now understood that the man has taken at least one hostage, with negotiators now at the scene working to rescue the person or persons taken by the armed robber. Police are at the scene of a bank robbery in Bakersfield, north of Los Angeles. Evacuations are now underway of nearby buildings and streets are closed in the downtown area of the city as the situation unfolds, with one hostage taken and a bomb threat at Chase Bank. The Bakersfield Police Department confirmed to local papers on Tuesday (June 2) that there is an active hostage situation at the Chase Bank on 17th Street and Chester. Police added that the suspect is a man and has made bomb threats. He also apparently has a bomb strapped to his body.