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(WBZ) ROCHESTER, N.H. A man claiming to have a bomb strapped to his chest walked into the presidential campaign office for Sen. Hillary Clinton in Rochester, N.H., and held several people hostage Friday.

It is unknown if hostages still remain inside the building.

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. Earlier reports said that other hostages were left inside, though it is unclear if they have been released.

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

Capt. Paul Callaghan said at a late afternoon news conference that police were dealing a "hostage situation" and would not confirm if hostages remained inside, though he said no one has been injured.

Pressed, he added: "We're confident we have the resources available to end this safely."

He released few other details but said the area was "stabilized" and a perimeter had been established.

The man is said to be in his 40s and is from Rochester.

WBZ Radio's Lana Jones learned that the man's stepson reported to police that his stepfather had been drinking for two days. The son said his stepfather had strapped two road flares to his chest and told his son Friday morning that he was going to the Clinton campaign office. He reportedly told his stepson "to watch the news."

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.

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 in Rochester. 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.