[alex52]

Reports: Two hostages freed at Clinton campaign office

• NEW: Two hostages released from Clinton campaign office, WMUR says
• Woman freed earlier with baby says man had bomb, WMUR reports
• Sen. Clinton not in the state

(CNN) -- Two people held hostage at Sen. Hillary Clinton's campaign office in Rochester, New Hampshire, have been freed, CNN affiliate WMUR said Friday.

Neither hostage was harmed, another affiliate, WCVB, reported on its Web site.

CNN has confirmed that at least one hostage has walked free, about two hours after the situation began.

A man walked into the office at about 1 p.m., Maj. Michael Hambrook of the New Hampshire State Police told CNN affiliate WMUR-TV.

Hambrook and Clinton campaign officials said two people were believed to be inside.

Shortly before 2 p.m., police officers were gathered across the street from the office, some kneeling behind police cruisers with guns drawn. Watch police take up positions »

Witnesses described the man as in his 40s with salt-and-pepper hair, WMUR reported.

A woman and her baby were released by the hostage-taker, the woman told workers at a nearby business, according to the WMUR Web site.

A witness, Lettie Tzizik, told WMUR she spoke to a woman shortly after she was released from the office by the hostage-taker.

"A young woman with a 6-month or 8-month-old infant 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 Web site reported.

Bill Shaheen, chairman of Clinton's New Hampshire campaign, told WMUR that the people being held were volunteers.

"Hopefully, they're going to negotiate this so no one gets hurt," Shaheen said.
Clinton, a candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination, is in the Washington area.

She was scheduled to speak at 3 p.m. at a Democratic National Committee event, but canceled the talk because of the situation, DNC Chairman Howard Dean said. Watch Dean break the news »

"Unfortunately as some of you know, there is a hostage situation in New Hampshire involving a Clinton campaign staff person," Dean told those who had gathered for the event.

"The details are sketchy at this time, but understandably Senator Clinton is now dealing with this very difficult problem and she is not going to be able to join us today. And we will keep them in our prayers and hope for a resolution to this situation in New Hampshire."

Buildings close to the storefront campaign office on Main Street were evacuated, including local campaign centers for Clinton's Democratic presidential rivals, Sen. Barack Obama and former senator John Edwards.
Cassandra Hamilton, who works in an office adjacent to the Clinton office, told WMUR: "I walked out and I immediately started running, and I saw that the road was blocked off. They told me run and keep going."

[Hav805]

You bout coverd it. Just heard on the radio 20min ago. He released one female, which leaves the male. He's demanding to speak to hilldog.

[hempRules]

This country is going to tare itself apart, because of its' devisevness and hate. The freaks coming out this early is a bad sign for America. When will we learn?

[alex52]

Game over....glad no one was hurt. I guess dude was upset at the state of the Mental Healthcare which is a rightful concern but obviously strapping a bomb to your chest is not the answer.

Hostage situation at Clinton campaign office ends

• Hostage taker known believed to be angry about mental healthcare
• Three hostages released from Clinton campaign office
• Woman freed earlier with baby says man had bomb, WMUR reports

(CNN) -- Police took into custudy a man who walked into Sen. Hillary Clinton's campaign office in Rochester, New Hampshire, and took several people hostage Friday.

The man, Lee Eisenberg, claimed to have a bomb strapped to his chest.
By 4 p.m., three people, including a young child, had been released.
The captor was also still inside the office and negotiations were taking place, according to reports.

The released hostages were not harmed, CNN affiliate WCVB reported on its Web site. Watch video of a hostage being released »

The situation began when a man walked into the office at about 1 p.m., Maj. Michael Hambrook of the New Hampshire State Police told CNN affiliate WMUR-TV. Watch police take up positions »

New Hampshire Department of Safety Assistant Commissioner Earl Sweeney said the man's name is Lee Eisenberg. Sweeney said Eisenberg was upset with the mental health care situation in the United States. Watch Rochester Police officials brief reporters on the incident »

Shortly before 2 p.m., police officers were gathered across the street from the office, some kneeling behind police cruisers with guns drawn. See the location of the office »

Other people were caught up at the start of the hostage situation.
A woman with a baby was released by the hostage-taker early on, she told a witness, Lettie Tzizik, who spoke to WMUR.

"A young woman with a 6-month or 8-month-old infant 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 Web site reported.

Bill Shaheen, chairman of Clinton's New Hampshire campaign, told WMUR the people held were volunteers.

Clinton, a candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination, is in the Washington area.

She was scheduled to speak at 3 p.m. at a Democratic National Committee event, but canceled the talk because of the situation, DNC Chairman Howard Dean said. Watch Dean break the news »

"Unfortunately as some of you know, there is a hostage situation in New Hampshire involving a Clinton campaign staff person," Dean told those who had gathered for the event.

"The details are sketchy at this time, but understandably Sen. Clinton is now dealing with this very difficult problem and she is not going to be able to join us today. And we will keep them in our prayers and hope for a resolution to this situation in New Hampshire."

Buildings close to the storefront campaign office on Main Street were evacuated, including local campaign centers for Clinton's Democratic presidential rivals, Sen. Barack Obama and former Sen. John Edwards.
Cassandra Hamilton, who works in an office adjacent to the Clinton office, told WMUR: "I walked out and I immediately started running, and I saw that the road was blocked off. They told me run and keep going."