Update on the NH hostage situation

Earlier this afternoon, a man entered the Clinton campaign regional HQ in Rochester, NH and claimed he had a bomb.

The two women who were being held hostage have now been released, but the hostage-taker is still holed up in the building.

The headquarters is a small storefront on a busy mixed commercial-residential block in a city of about 28,000.

I am happy to hear that he has let the two hostages go.

WMUR has a live feed from the scene. If anything happens in the next few minutes, I'll let you know.

I am sending positive thoughts and energy.

This is scary.

http://www.fosters.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071130/GJNEWS04/71130024

ROCHESTER — Police have confirmed that two hostages has been released from the local Hillary Clinton presidential campaign headquarters after an unidentified man went in with what is believed to be an explosive device strapped to his chest.

The man took over the office at around 12:45 p.m. today.

One of the released hostages is a woman who appeared to be in her early 20s. She left the office at about 3:05. She appeared shaken and cold. She was not wearing a jacket and was escortedby a police SWAT member.

Police evacuated businesses and streets surrounding North Main Street this afternoon after receiving the report that a man had entered the Clinton office at 28 North Main St.

WMUR-TV reported that a woman and a child were in the office at the time the man entered and he let them leave.

He is described as being in his 40s with salt and pepper hair.

ABC News is reporting that the suspect is an older man with a history of mental illness who reportedly told his son to watch the news today.

High ranking officials with the Clinton campaign told WMUR that two male campaign workers remained inside with the suspect.

People were being told to go to the Fire Station on Wakefield Street.

No one was reported hurt as of 3:15 p.m.

As of 1:30 p.m., officers in camouflage were staging at a nearby Ben Franklin parking lot on Wakefield Street, and a State Police bomb unit had been called in. A helicopter was flying overhead.

Shortly before 2 p.m., police widened the perimeter around the North Main Street office and a SWAT team was seen approaching the building.

A Reverse 911 message was sent out to homes on North Main Street informing people if they are not home, to not come home.

Buildings surrounding the loction were placed into lockdown.

Dover police also responded to the scene with a tactical team.

All schools were in a lockdown, as of 2:45 p.m.

St. Elizabeth Seton School was evacuated shortly before 2:45 p.m. and students moved to Maple Street School. Parents were allowed to pick up children at Maple Street School after 3 p.m.

Just a hunch.

So yeah, you're probably right.

Rochester is a funny place with some odd characters.I have a hunch as to who this is, but I obviously am not going to say anything at this point.

Foster's Daily Democrat (the daily that covers Rochester) is reporting that there are two male campaign workers still inside the building.

Apparently the Obama and Edwards campaigns have offices in the same neighborhood, and they evacuated as soon as news of the hostage situation broke.

Also, the Clinton state headquarters in Manchester is in lockdown. No word on whether the others have followed suit.