Reporter Dan Gorenstein has details from a police press conference in Rochester. He speaks with NHPR's Xenia Piaseckyj.
NHPR's coverage of this event was named 2007 Best Breaking News by the New Hampshire Associated Press Broadcasters Association.
Piaseckyj: As reported by NPR at the top of this hour, a man claiming to have a bomb strapped to his body took some campaign workers hostage at the Hillary Clinton campaign office in downtown Rochester this afternoon. Joining us now live with the latest is New Hampshire Public Radio's Dan Gorenstein.
Paul Callaghan, police captain of the Rochester Police, gave a brief press conference just a short time ago. What did he have to say?
Gorenstein: He basically had to say that the situation is fluid. He did not define fluid. He said right now there is a hostage situation. Reporters asked is that "is" or "was" - and he was not clear whether or not there is an ongoing situation or whether that's referring to a past situation, but he did say again that the situation is fluid right now. There are, judging from the activity you can say, it certainly does not seem like anything is ending or coming to a close right now.
Piaseckyj: The FBI is now saying the man, the suspect had road flares strapped to his body. What can you tell us about this?
Gorenstein: That is the information that reporters are receiving from locals in Rochester. When we asked Captain Callaghan about that he would not confirm or deny whether or not road flares were involved. But again, multiple sources on the ground in Rochester have talked about road flares.
Piaseckyj: I understand the schools were shut down this afternoon, some were evacuated. What's the lates on the businesses and schools in the area right about now?
Gorenstein: At least an elementary school that had been on lockdown has opened, and children were released approximately around 3 o'clock. That's according to Captain Callaghan.
Piaseckyj: We should also mention that Senator Clinton was not in New Hampshire today. She was in Virginia, where she cancelled a speech after learning of the incident. NHPR's Dan Gorenstein live in Rochester, thank you Dan.
Gorenstein: Thank you Xenia.
