LOS ANGELES — Beverly Hills police are responding to reports of gunfire inside Nakatomi Plaza, the Century City high-rise owned by the international Nakatomi Corporation, where a private holiday gathering was underway on Christmas Eve. According to preliminary information, a group of heavily armed individuals forced their way into the building, triggering panic among employees and guests attending an after-hours corporate event.
Law enforcement sources say multiple floors of the building were quickly secured by the suspects, with dozens of individuals believed to be held inside. The motives remain unclear, though officials cautioned against early assumptions, noting that the perpetrators initially identified themselves as politically motivated. Authorities have since raised doubts about that claim, citing the group’s tactical coordination and apparent interest in restricted areas of the building.
Authorities have identified the group responsible for Tuesday night’s violent takeover at Nakatomi Plaza as an international criminal organization led by Hans Gruber, according to multiple law enforcement sources briefed on the ongoing investigation.
Gruber, a European national with a long history of international financial crimes, is believed to have orchestrated the assault with a team of heavily armed operatives who infiltrated the building during a private corporate holiday reception. Officials say the group gained control of the upper floors shortly after 9 p.m., disabling security systems, locking down elevators, and forcing dozens of party attendees into secured conference rooms.
While the group initially claimed to be politically motivated, federal authorities now say that narrative appears to be a deliberate misdirection. Investigators believe the suspects were targeting sensitive corporate assets housed within the building, including restricted vault areas tied to Nakatomi Corporation’s international holdings.
Intelligence officials describe Gruber as highly educated, multilingual, and meticulous in his planning. His criminal history reportedly spans several European countries, with past investigations linking him to sophisticated financial thefts, art crimes, and coordinated operations designed to exploit corporate infrastructure rather than traditional civilian targets. “This is not a smash-and-grab,” one federal source said. “This is someone who studies systems and waits for the right moment.”
The situation remains fluid as negotiators attempt to establish direct communication with Gruber, who has thus far remained largely silent. Law enforcement sources confirm that the suspects are exceptionally well-equipped, carrying military-grade weapons and explosives, raising concerns about both hostage safety and structural damage to the building.
Adding to the complexity of the response are persistent reports of a lone individual moving throughout the tower, apparently engaging the suspects intermittently. Authorities have declined to identify the person or confirm their status, but multiple sources acknowledged that gunfire has erupted in areas not under the suspects’ direct control.
Several officers monitoring internal security audio reported hearing what sounded like a shouted expletive over the building’s radio system, including one phrase described as “Yippee-ki-yay, motherf—.” However, officials cautioned that stress, echoes, and cross-channel interference may be contributing to confusion. “There is an unknown actor inside the building,” one official said. “That changes everything.”
Outside, downtown Los Angeles remains on lockdown. Streets surrounding the plaza have been closed, nearby buildings evacuated, and airspace restricted as helicopters continue surveillance. Emergency medical teams are staged nearby, though officials have not yet confirmed any fatalities.
Federal agencies are now fully engaged, citing the international scope of the suspects and the potential financial implications of the targeted assets. “This is being treated as a coordinated international crime incident,” a spokesperson said. “Not a local hostage situation.”
Nakatomi Plaza serves as the U.S. headquarters of Nakatomi Corporation, a multinational conglomerate with interests spanning technology, energy, and international finance. The American division is overseen by senior executive Joseph Takagi, who was hosting the private holiday gathering at the time of the incident.
Also confirmed to be inside the building is Holly Gennero, a high-ranking company executive who relocated to Los Angeles earlier this year. Gennero, whose professional reputation within the firm is well established, was attending the event as part of ongoing year-end business meetings. Authorities have declined to comment on the status of individual hostages but acknowledged that senior corporate leadership remains a priority concern as negotiations continue.
Authorities urge the public to avoid the area and rely on official updates as negotiations continue into the early morning hours. Law enforcement emphasized that patience remains critical. “This is a delicate operation,” an LAPD official said. “The priority is getting everyone out alive.”
This is a developing story. For further updates watch Die Hard, streaming on Hulu and Peacock. Happy Holidays!
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