Correspondent Roger Wood is in Rochester with the latest on the continuing hostage situation. 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: Police in Rochester are still surrounding the Hillary Clinton where, NPR has just reported and we've been reporting, a man walked in earlier this afternoon and took several hostages. Joining us on the line now live from downtown Rochester is NHPR correspondent Roger Wood. For those listeners just tuning in this evening, could you please recap what happened today?
Wood: I can, and I can bring you up to date as well because we're awaiting another briefing from Captain Paul Callaghan of the Rochester Police Department, who has really only confirmed one thing, that it has been a hostage situation. He wouldn't confirm how many hostages were involved, wouldn't confirm the name of the hostage taker, wouldn't say much more except that the situation has stabilized and he hopes that it can be ended peacefully.
Again, earlier a man walked into the Hillary Clinton campaign headquarters in downtown Rochester. He apparently demanded to talk to Hillary Clinton, who wasn't even in New Hampshire. There were an unknown number of hostages inside. I talked to a young fellow on the street who said he saw one woman released and hustled across the street. I asked him whether he could tell what her demeanor was, and he could not because he could not get a good look at her.
Basically the entire downtown is still cordoned off - it's dark, as you know, and we may not get another briefing until 7 o'clock. Naturally you could speculate that this could be ended quickly by police if only the hostage taker was inside, so that would lead one to speculate that there might be one or more hostages still involved in this unfortunate situation.
About 54 law enforcement officers - state, local and federal - are on the scene here, Xenia.
Piaseckyj: Now we've been hearing that this suspect, the hostage taker, has road flares strapped to him -
Wood: That was not confirmed, not confirmed by Captain Callaghan as to what he might be armed with or if he's armed at all.
Piaseckyj: And what is the status, do you know, of those who came out of the hostage situation?
Wood: I do not know, he did not release any information on the hostages that were released or there names.
Piaseckyj: We're just getting word in now that another hostage has been released, that's just the latest breaking, we'll get back with you when new information becomes available, Roger Wood, thanks for joining us.
Wood: You're welcome.
