UNITED STATES - Discovery gunman shot by police, three hostages safe

MARYLAND, United States (AP):

Police shot an armed man who took three hostages at Discovery Channel's headquarters yesterday. All of hostages escaped safely, officials said.

Montgomery County Police Chief Thomas Manger said he did not know whether police killed the gunman, who was upset about the network's programming. Police spent several hours negotiating with him after he burst into the suburban Washington building about 1 p.m. (1700 GMT) waving a handgun and with canisters strapped to his body.

Manger said an explosive device might have detonated, and the suspect might have brought other devices into the building. He said as far as he knew, the 1,900 people who work in the building were able to get out safely.

A law-enforcement official speaking on condition of anonymity because the investigation was ongoing said authorities had identified James J. Lee as the likely suspect.

A different official, who spoke on condition of anonymity for the same reason, said Lee previously protested outside the building, where he was arrested and charged with disorderly conduct in February 2008, according to court records.

Paid homeless people

Police reports indicate he paid homeless people to join his protest and carry signs outside the building. He gave one individual $1,000 for what he considered a prize winning essay.

At one point, a crowd of more than 100 people gathered around Lee, 43, who referred to money as "just trash" and began throwing fistfuls of it into the air.

At the trial, The Gazette of Montgomery County reported, he said he began working to save the planet after being laid off from his job in San Diego. He said he was inspired by Ishmael, a novel by environmentalist Daniel Quinn and by former Vice-President Al Gore's documentary An Inconvenient Truth.

A website registered to Lee criticised Discovery and announced plans for the protest in January 2008: "These guys have been very sneaky and deceptive as to their contribution to the planetary problems. Just look at their 'new' show about saving the planet, Planet Green, to me, it's just another show about more PRODUCTS to make MONEY, not about actual solutions. We can't let them get away with doing it anymore."

Discovery Communications Inc operates cable and satellite networks in the US, including The Discovery Channel, TLC and Animal Planet. Discovery shows include Cash Cab and Man vs Wild, and TLC airs American Chopper and Kate Plus Eight.

'Whale wars'

Animal Planet also airs the controversial series Whale Wars, about attempts by environmenta-lists to disrupt the Japanese whaling industry.

After Lee's arrest, a magistrate ordered a doctor's evaluation, but court records do not immediately indicate the result. Lee was convicted by a jury and served two weeks in jail. He was also ordered to stay 500 feet (150 metres) away from Discovery headquarters.

Authorities descended on the area, and people were being kept away from the main drag of the downtown area where the building is located amid restaurants and shops. Traffic was jammed. Federal Bureau of Investigaton (FBI) Washington field office spokesman Andrew Ames said FBI bomb technicians and police commando personnel were also at the scene.