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Hostages at Clinton office 'free' Hostage drama at Clinton office
(about 2 hours later)
Two people taken hostage at a Hillary Clinton campaign office in New Hampshire have been freed, reports say. Police have surrounded Hillary Clinton's campaign office in the city of Rochester, New Hampshire, after a man seized a number of hostages.
The hostage-taker entered the building in the city of Rochester hours earlier, claiming to have a bomb. Reports say four people have been freed, but it is unclear if there are other hostages still in the building.
It is not known whether other people are still being held inside the building. TV pictures have been showing police taking up positions nearby. Police have evacuated the area and there have been no reported casualties, although the man claimed to have a bomb strapped to his chest.
Mrs Clinton is at a Democratic Party event in Virginia and has not been involved in the siege. Mrs Clinton is at a Virginia party event and has had no part in the siege.
The area has been evacuated and police have sent a tactical bomb unit and hostage negotiators to the scene, according to a New Hampshire police spokesman. Media reports said she cancelled a speech she was just about to make as news of the hostage crisis broke.
Law enforcement sources have told the BBC that the suspect is well-known locally, and has a history of emotional issues. 'Resources available'
He had told his son to watch the news, according to sources. Police sent a tactical bomb unit and hostage negotiators to the scene.
Mother and baby "The area is stabilised, we have resources available to us to handle the situation effectively and safely," said Rochester police department spokesman Capt Paul Callaghan.
The man earlier released a mother and her baby but held onto two volunteers, according to police.
Hillary Clinton is not caught up in the hostage dramaHillary Clinton is not caught up in the hostage drama
The man first released a mother and her baby and later freed two volunteers, according to police.
Law enforcement sources have told the BBC that the suspect is well-known locally, and has a history of emotional issues.
Reports say he was depressed and may have been drinking heavily prior to the siege.
He had told his stepson to watch the news, according to sources.
Local shopkeeper Lettie Tzizik told local television station WMUR TV: "A young woman... came rushing into the store just in tears, and she said: 'You need to call 911 - a man has just walked into the Clinton office, opened his coat and showed us a bomb strapped to his chest with duct tape'."Local shopkeeper Lettie Tzizik told local television station WMUR TV: "A young woman... came rushing into the store just in tears, and she said: 'You need to call 911 - a man has just walked into the Clinton office, opened his coat and showed us a bomb strapped to his chest with duct tape'."
The offices of rival presidential candidates Barack Obama and John Edwards have also been evacuated. Easily accessible
The offices of rival presidential candidates Barack Obama and John Edwards have also been evacuated, and most of the city centre has been locked down.
Mr Obama's office is on the same street as the Clinton campaign headquarters.Mr Obama's office is on the same street as the Clinton campaign headquarters.
Correspondents say that primary campaign offices in US provincial towns are often staffed by small numbers of volunteers and are easily accessible to the public.
New Hampshire is due to hold the first primary of the 2008 presidential election campaign in January, and all of the candidates are currently concentrating much of their campaigning efforts in the state.New Hampshire is due to hold the first primary of the 2008 presidential election campaign in January, and all of the candidates are currently concentrating much of their campaigning efforts in the state.