It’s Christmas Eve in Los Angeles and something is happening at Nakatomi Plaza in the centre of the city – with multiple witnesses claiming something is up at the ultra-futuristic building.
Reports are flooding in with gunshots and even explosions reported. The police are being tight lipped on the incident but people nearby are claiming men with “German accents” were seen near the building.
Worried listeners have hacked walky-talky channels in the building and have reported some worrying exchanges including a fella who was “invited to a Christmas party by mistake.” Another person has hacked the CCTV in the building – and is posting worrying images inside.
Phone lines are dead and a truck and sedan have been seen entering the building. There is no reply from the buildings reception.
Worryingly, there’s are a reported $640 million dollars in the vault.
The action may be all over now but you can read how the Daily Star told the story of Die Hard by reading our blog below.
Did we make you go watch Die Hard? Let us know by Emailing [email protected]
#DieHardLive
23:36Simon Hamalienko
Now we really hope you all knew this blog was the plot to Die Hard or you may have sent it to your friends and familly, therefore completely embarrassing yourself.
Thank you to all the comments and messages we have had over the course of the night. We know you enjoyed watching us pay tribute to the best Christmas movie ever made and to the ultimate hero that is John McCane, brought to life by action legend Bruce Willis. Not to mention the late great Brit actor Alan Rickman for playing iconic villian Hans Gruber.
Now the Nakatomi Plaza drama is over, the Daily Star team would like to wish you a good night and a very Merry Christmas.
Who did we make watch Die Hard tonight? (Image: Getty Images)
23:23Lloyd Coombes
Mrs McClane has punched our esteemed colleague Richard Thornberg in the face, and the McClanes have left the scene in a battered limousine.
23:21Simon Hamalienko
NYPD cop John McClane is now outside the Nakatomi Plaza with his wife.
LAPD have stated that it was McClane who fired the shot at Gruber on the 30th floor, which led to the suscpect falling to his death.
McClane appears to have been injured at some point during the incident.
It is still unknown what really happened at the iconic LA buidling, but maybe they will make a movie about it someday?
McClane and his wife are both safe following the incident (Image: Getty Images)
23:13Lloyd Coombes
One lone gunman disguised among the hostages has attempted to fire on civilians. However, he has been gunned down by Sgt. Al Powell. Once again drawing praise for his heroic events.
23:09Simon Hamalienko
Posts on social media have paid tribute to the bravery of a hero cop who asnwered the ‘prank call’.
Sgt. Al Powell actions helped save a number of lives due to his quick action at Nakaotmi Plaza.
36 years ago today Sgt Powell answered a ‘prank call’ and ended up saving countless lives at the Nakatomi Plaza.
Today we remember him and his bravery… pic.twitter.com/DDEiqFGiTy
— Bally’s Boots (@BallysBoots) December 24, 2024
23:00Lloyd Coombes
It’s now Christmas Day here in LA but we can’t keep our eyes off the scenes here at Nakatomi Plaza. One hostage told me they were given the choice to “walk out of here or be carried out” by Gruber.
The body that fell just is repotedly to be of the suspect, Hans Gruber.
22:55Lloyd Coombes
More gunshots here from the 30th floor and now it appears it’s snowing…
… no, wait, those are bearer bonds – and two people, a man and a woman, are hanging from the building…
… the male is now falling, fast.
Horror scenes as two people appear to be clinging on
22:49Lloyd Coombes
We’ve just heard what sounds like tyre squeals and a crash from the parking garage.
22:41Lloyd Coombes
Our condolences to the families of the FBI team onboard that helicopter, and agents Johnson and Johnson (no relation).
Scene of destruction currently at Nakatomi Plaza
22:33Lloyd Coombes
I can’t quite believe what I’m seeing here but a barefooted McClane has launched himself over the side of the building as the top of the roof has exploded. The FBI helicopter has been engulfed in flames. It appears the NYPD officer has swung himself back into the building.
22:29Lloyd Coombes
Helicopters have arrived at the top of Nakatomi Plaza, as have the hostages, but McClane appears to be firing his weapon indiscriminately into the air.
Image taken of McClane earlier tonight from CCTV (Image: Getty Images)
22:16Lloyd Coombes
Hostages are being moved to the roof for transport, security cameras show, as well as some of the gunmen – but neither McClane or Gruber are with them.
22:11Lloyd Coombes
If you’re just joining us, here’s all we know so far
- A splinter group of terrorists have taken over Nakatomi Plaza, with around 30 hostages
- A man on the inside, John McClane, has managed to kill multiple members of the group, but not until multiple LAPD officers were injured
- FBI helicopters are en route to transport both the terrorists and hostages away to LAX
22:08Lloyd Coombes
A surprising update here – it appears McClane was at tonight’s Christmas party with his wife, Holly McClane (nee Gennaro). We’ve also heard that the limo driver mentioned earlier still hasn’t been seen in some time – his boss thought he was on his way to Vegas.
The mystery limo driver has been named locally as Argyle
21:59Simon Hamalienko
As we have been running the live blog, readers have been in touch as we bring you all the key devlepments.
One person sent in a photograpgh from outside the buidling, while another messaged in asking “Who said they were terrorists?”
And our answer to that is they have hostages, made ransom demands and shot a rocket launcher. All terrifying stuff.
21:54Lloyd Coombes
Gruber is now speaking directly with the FBI. Helicopters are incoming to take both the terrorists and the hostages away from the building via the roof
21:45Lloyd Coombes
The FBI is looking to cut power to Nakatomi Plaza, which will also cut ten square blocks of power on Christmas eve. Nakatomi Plaza is now down to its emergency backup power.
Has your power gone out? Be sure to get in touch. Email [email protected]
21:44Lloyd Coombes
Our colleagues are reporting that McClane’s family address is in LA, with Richard Thornberg leaving the scene to head there now.
21:19Lloyd Coombes
Two FBI agents have arrived, and not long after we can hear gunshots on one of the floors of the building along with the sound of glass breaking.
Our CCTV whiz says at least two more suspects are down following the gunfight, but there’s a lot of blood on the floor.
21:08Lloyd Coombes
Gruber is now demanding a series of political prisoners are to be released in the group’s first demands. They want to fly to LAX with the hostages to be able to board a plane.
21:04Lloyd Coombes
Roy’s identity has been revealed as John McClane, a NYPD police officer. Someone from the Nakatomi Christmas party has just asked him to hand himself in, asking where the detonators are – could we be set for more explosions?
We’ve just heard a single gunshot and a lot of screaming on the radio with Gruber saying “shall I shoot another one?” referring to hostages.
File photo of John McClane
20:52Lloyd Coombes
Our colleagues at KFLW TV have said that the suspect’s leader, Hans, could be Hans Gruber, leader of a radical West German Volksfrei movement. Volksfrei say he has been expelled from the group, so is seemingly acting of his own accord.
The mysterious Roy has also just given Deputy Police Chief Dwayne T Robinson an earful via radio call.
The suspect behind this incident is believed to be Hans Gruber
20:45Lloyd Coombes
LAPD personnel are struggling to get out of the vehicle and it appears the perpetrators are preparing to fire again…
… wait, a huge explosion has just shaken the entire Nakatomi Plaza building. It looks like one of the floors has been damaged. People are taking cover across the street and are now covered in glass.
20:39Lloyd Coombes
The vehicle has driven up the steps to the building entrance and been hit by what appears to be a rocket launcher. It’s just been fired on again!
Footage of the huge explosion after reported rocket launcher attack
20:24Lloyd Coombes
Reports reaching us that LAPD teams have been shot and injured at the entrance to Nakatomi Plaza, while gunfire has destroyed the lights outside. The police are sending in an armoured vehicle to the southeast corner of the building.
20:14Lloyd Coombes
Armed LAPD teams are preparing to enter Nakatomi Plaza, but there are no demands from the perpetrators. Our CCTV watcher has said that the building’s security shutters are coming down.
Sergeant Powell currently on the scene at Nakatomi Plaza
20:01Lloyd Coombes
A caller has referred to himself as Roy, but we’re still unsure who he is. He mentions being able to spot a fake ID, so he could be anything from a police officer to a bartender. News crews are now arriving on the scene from our colleagues KFLW TV – welcome to the party, guys.
19:50Lloyd Coombes
Intercepted radio communications have revealed the mastermind of the terror threat as Hans. He’s speaking to a mystery man who said “yippee ki yay mother f*****” but that doesn’t track with any dialect we know of.
19:44Lloyd Coombes
Sergeant Al Powell has been named as the officer that first attended the scene, and our unknown man on the inside has explained there are around 30 hostages on the 30th floor of the Nakatomi Plaza building, with suspects “down to 9” and possibly European.
19:30Lloyd Coombes
An LAPD officer has attended to check the disturbance but is now leaving without incident…
… wait! We’ve seen a body fall through the glass onto the roof of the patrol car, followed by a hail of gunfire that sent the vehicle careening down to a lower level. It seems the driver is OK, thankfully, but more LAPD units are now converging at Nakatomi Plaza.
The image was taken moments before the horrifying incident occurred
