The Washington Post | The New York Times
Montgomery County, Md., police arrived at CNN anchor Wolf Blitzer’s house Saturday evening after receiving a message claiming there had been a shooting there, Michael Laris reports.
After calling CNN, police learned that it was another case of “SWATing,” in which hoaxters send disguised emergency messages hoping for a big police response. A CNN spokesperson told Laris that Blitzer was “traveling and unavailable for comment.”
Security writer Brian Krebs had a dinner party interrupted by such a call in March. Adam Nagourney and Ian Lovett reported earlier this month that the problem has gotten so annoying in Southern California that police are responding more warily to distress calls from celebrities.
Previously: Hoax sends SWAT team to reporter’s house