Man arrested over alleged plot to kill CNN staff: 'Fake news. I'm coming to gun you all down'

Suspect from Michigan accused of threatening to commit mass murder

The man is accused of threatening to travel to Atlanta to commit mass murder (Erik S. Lesser / Epa/REX/Shutterstock)

A man from Michigan has been arrested after allegedly threatening to shoot and kill CNN employees in Atlanta, Georgia, according to a report by WGCL-TV.

According to court documents obtained by WGCL-TV, the man made 22 calls to the news organisation about a week ago, telling an operator: “Fake news. I’m coming to gun you all down.”

On another call, he said, “I'm smarter than you. More powerful than you. I have more guns than you. More manpower. Your cast is about to get gunned down in a matter of hours.”

He continued: "I am coming to Georgia right now to go to the CNN headquarters to f---ing gun every single last one of you."

According to WGCL-TV reporter Jonathan Carlson, who obtained the court documents, investigators inside CNN were able to trace the number and help agents locate the suspect, who is from a suburb of Detroit.

“This is an example of how political rhetoric is becoming all too real in society these days,” said Mr Carlson.

Brian Stelter, senior media correspondent at CNN, tweeted in response to the news: “We take any threats to CNN employees or workplaces, around the world, extremely seriously. This one is no exception."

He continued: "We have been in touch with local and federal law enforcement throughout, and have taken all necessary measures to ensure the safety of our people."

Donald Trump has repeatedly attacked the media, branding organisations such as CNN and The New York Times “fake news”, which he describes as an “enemy of the American people”.

Both news outlets were among the winners of Mr Trump’s self-proclaimed “Fake News” awards announced last week.

It followed a year in which Mr Trump tweeted a doctored video of himself wrestling with a man whose head has been replaced by a CNN logo, and retweeted a meme showing the CNN logo and a bloodlike splatter on the bottom of his shoe.

CNN responded to the attacks by producing a 30-second advertisement poking fun at Mr Trump’s own relationship with facts and boycotting the White House press Christmas party in December.