Ford’s Kansas City assembly plant in Claycomo, Missouri, was evacuated on Tuesday evening after reports of a possible active shooter on the premises, according to the county sheriff’s office and the plant’s union. However, authorities were unable to locate anyone during their initial search. The Clay County Sheriff’s office provided an update late on Tuesday stating that no suspect was found.
As a precautionary measure, Ford has halted all production at the plant, including the night shift scheduled for Tuesday. The company has not yet responded to Reuters’ request for comment regarding the incident.
Officials reported that a man called Ford’s safety and risk management team around 5:20 p.m., claiming to be armed with explosives, a rifle, and a pistol. The caller stated that he had barricaded himself in a second-floor bathroom in the paint area of the plant. It is unclear whether the threat was genuine or a hoax.
Fortunately, there have been no reports of injuries, deaths, or damages related to the incident. The sheriff’s office suspects that it could be a “swatting call,” an act in which individuals make false emergency calls to provoke a large-scale response from law enforcement.
The Kansas City assembly plant employs approximately 7,250 workers, as stated on Ford’s website. The United Auto Workers (UAW) union confirmed the alert and the evacuation, emphasizing that they are closely monitoring the situation.
Investigations are ongoing, and local authorities are working to clear the factory. Updates regarding the incident will be provided as more information becomes available.
Reporting by Jyoti Narayan and Shubham Kalia in Bengaluru; Editing by Jacqueline Wong & Shri Navaratnam