The FBI has shot dead a gunman who took 12 people hostage inside a Bank of America branch in downtown Los Angeles, ending a nine-hour standoff that saw British counter-terrorism specialists drafted in to advise on the operation. The dramatic conclusion came shortly after 7pm local time on Thursday when FBI tactical teams stormed the building following the failure of negotiations. The suspect, identified as 42-year-old Michael Torres, a former security guard with a history of mental health issues, was pronounced dead at the scene.
None of the hostages were harmed, though two suffered minor injuries during the breach. The Metropolitan Police's Counter Terrorism Command confirmed it had deployed officers to California 'in an advisory capacity' at the request of US authorities. The move underscores the deepening transatlantic cooperation on domestic security threats.
Senior Whitehall sources said the UK team, comprising hostage negotiators and forensic psychologists, had been embedded with the FBI since Wednesday when the siege began. 'This is not unprecedented, but it is rare,' a former senior counter-terror officer said. 'It reflects the shared understanding that these incidents – whether motivated by grievance, ideology or mental illness – require a global response.
' The hostage-taker had walked into the bank at 10am on Wednesday, firing two shots into the ceiling and demanding a ransom of £5 million and a helicopter. Negotiators established contact within an hour, but progress stalled as Torres became increasingly erratic. Witnesses described hearing intermittent gunfire throughout the day.
'We were told to stay away from the windows,' said Maria Gonzalez, 34, a nearby office worker. 'People were crying. It felt like a war zone.
' The FBI declined to comment on whether Torres had any connection to terrorist organisations, but a law enforcement source said he had posted encrypted messages referencing Islamic State in the past 48 hours. 'He was expressing sympathy for the group but we are still investigating whether there was any direct contact,' the source added. The decision to deploy UK experts attracted criticism from some security analysts who questioned the need for British involvement on US soil.
But the Home Office insisted the move was 'standard practice' under a mutual aid agreement signed in 2017. 'The UK and US face a shared threat from terrorism and serious organised crime. This demonstrates our commitment to working together,' a spokesman said.
For the families of the hostages, the outcome was met with relief tinged with trauma. 'I just want to hold my husband,' said Susan Miller, whose husband Mark was among those held. 'We are grateful to the police but we need time to heal.
' The FBI has launched a full investigation into the shooting, which will be reviewed by the Department of Justice. The UK team is expected to return to London within 48 hours.
