Breaking: Hostages Held at Clinton NH Office
5:14 PM: The network is running commercials now. I’ll take a brief break and will start a new post for any additional updates.
4:59 PM: MSNBC - According to Rochester, NH police log for the week of April 3rd, Leland Eisenberg, a man who lives in the area, on Milton Rd., was charged with two counts of stalking.
“Somebody in the area is demanding to talk to Hillary Clinton.”
4:53 PM: MSNBC - The suspect has been tentativly identified as Leland Eisenber [sic], a local man, in his mid-40’s, and according to his son-in-law is someone who wanted to be hospitalized
4:40 PM: Press Conference - Capt. Paul Callaghan, Rochester Police Department
The situation is still fluid. the area is stablizied. they have adequate resources to handle the situation. FBI, ATF, and Secret Service participating with local authorities.
It is a hostage situation and is inappropriate to provide details on how many hostages or any other details of the ongoing investigation.
He cannot confirm the identity of the suspect.
When asked if a bomb threat currently existed, he responded “ased on information received, we have stablizied the area, which is about four or five blocks.
There have been no reported injuries.
Continues to emphasize it is a fluid investigation.
54-sworn officers (local) are working the situation.
End 4:46 PM
That is a rather cryptic summariztion of what Capt. Callaghan said — typing fast and not able to hear most of the questions asked, just responses.
4:37 PM: MSNBC is reporting that according to sources (suspects son) the suspect had been drinking earlier today and entered the office with intention of causing a scene.
Excerpt of original post from the Caucus followed by updates:
3:26 PM ET: A man claiming to have a bomb strapped to his chest walked in to Hillary Rodham Clinton’s campaign offices in Rochester, N.H., today and took hostages, police and witnesses said.
Senator Clinton was not in the building at the time. She was scheduled to speak at the Democratic National Committee meeting in Vienna, Va., afternoon, but she canceled that appearance after receiving the reports that at least two volunteers were being held captive.
Bill Shaheen, a co-chairman of Mrs. Clinton’s New Hampshire and national campaign, said in a telephone interview at 2:40 p.m. that the two hostages are both staff members in the Rochester campaign office, one of 16 offices that Mrs. Clinton has around the state.
Updates as posted by the Caucus:
4:20 p.m. MSNBC is reporting that the son-in-law of the suspect walked into a restaurant and while he ordered coffee, told witnesses that his father-in-law had gone to a hardware store and bought roadside flares.
4:10 p.m. Mitt Romney’s campaign released a statement saying they have asked all the campaign field offices to “lock all exterior doors and be on alert for any suspicious individuals.”
“We’ve also reminded all Romney campaign employees in Boston and across the country to be cognizant when entering or exiting staff offices so as not to allow anyone into offices who is not authorized.”
“Everyone is keeping those involved in the situation in our thoughts and prayers right now as well, with hopes of a safe resolution.”
3:42 p.m. WMUR-TV in New Hampshire is reporting that two hostages have been released from the campaign offices, but it is unclear whether there are still hostages inside. According to the Associated Press, at least one hostage remains in the building.
ABC News reported that the suspect is a man who is known locally and has a history of mental illness. The network also reported that the man had
told his son today, “Watch the news.”
The suspect has not been identified publicly and there is no information available on his son.
3:35 p.m. The Rochester police received a call shortly after 12:30 p.m. alerting them to a possible hostage situation, according to Captain Paul Callaghan. It took only a short time to realize the threat was real and the Rochester Police, as part of a routine procedure, contacted the neighboring Dover and Durham police departments for assistance.
The New Hampshire State Police bomb squad unit was also called in to help deal with the situation.
The streets around Mrs. Clinton’s headquarters were sealed off and the area evacuated, including St. Elizabeth Seton School, which includes children in grades 1 through 8. Captain Callaghan said buses were arranged to transport the childrten and they were all cleared out within the last half-hour.
“We have stabilized the situation in the area around the office,” Captain Callaghan said.
He would not comment on reports that one hostage had been freed or how many remained in the building.
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