A man is holding two people hostage at the presidential campaign office for Sen. Hillary Clinton in Rochester, New Hampshire.

The man walked into the office with some sort of device strapped to him, claiming it was a bomb just before noon.

WBZ Radio spoke with the man’s son, who said his father had been drinking for two days. The son said his father had strapped two road flares to his chest and told his son Friday morning "to watch the news."

State Police said the man released a mother and a child from the office, moments after he entered. Another woman was released around 3 p.m. It’s believed there are now two hostages left inside.

Earlier, a young woman carrying an infant ran into a nearby store in tears, saying she had been in the campaign office when a man walked in, opened his coat and showed them what looked like a bomb strapped to his chest with duct tape. She said the man let her and her child go.

There are reports from the scene that the hostage taker is demanding to speak with Senator Clinton.

Just before the woman was released at 3 p.m., SWAT team members slid a secure phone line into the building and were then able to escort the woman out to safety.

Clinton is not there. She is monitoring events from her home in Washington, D.C. The Senator was scheduled to appear by satellite at a Democratic National Committee event in Virginia this afternoon, but she has cancelled her appearance.

The Clinton Campaign released a written statement just before 3 p.m. "There is an ongoing situation in our Rochester, NH office," the statement said. "We are in close contact with state and local authorities and are acting at their direction. We will release additional details as appropriate."

Bill Shaheen, chairman of Clinton’s campaign, said someone walked into the Rochester office with what appears to be a bomb strapped to his chest. Two staffers, whom he described as volunteers, were held hostage and others were released.

Workers for Sen. Barack Obama’s campaign office in Rochester also were evacuated, a campaign spokesman said. The office is four doors away from Clinton’s. John Edwards’ staffers and several businesses in the neighborhood also were evacuated.

A nearby school is locked down.

Police have gathered at a nearby church and set up a command post there. SWAT teams and the State Police bomb squad are also on scene.

Source: WBZTV.com