Hostages taken at Clinton NH headquarters

This does not sound good.

A man claiming to have a bomb walked into Hillary Rodham Clinton's storefront campaign office today and took at least two hostages, police and witnesses said. One woman was later released.

''We are in close contact with state and local authorities and are acting at their direction,'' Clinton said in a statement. ``We will release additional details as appropriate.''

The man ordered the hostages onto the floor and then released a mother and her baby, said State Police Maj. Michael Hambrook. Two campaign volunteers were still being held, said Bill Shaheen, a top state campaign official.

Witness Lettie Tzizik told television station WMUR of Manchester that she spoke to the woman shortly after she was released and that she was crying, holding the infant.

"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," Tzizik said.

Thankfully, it now appears that at least two more hostages have been released, although it's not clear whether there are others. Live video coverage of the situation is here. I sincerely hope that this comes to a safe and peaceful resolution.

UPDATE: It's over, with no one getting hurt. Thank God for that.

Posted by Charles Kuffner on November 30, 2007 to The making of the President