Standoff ends peacefully at Sen. Clinton's N.H. office

  

(11/30/07 - ROCHESTER, NH) -- A distraught man wearing what appeared to be a bomb strapped to his chest walked into a Hillary Rodham Clinton campaign office Friday, took hostages and demanded to speak to the candidate, then surrendered after a six-hour standoff, authorities said.

Shortly after releasing the last hostages, Leeland Eisenberg walked out of the storefront office, held out his hands and lay on the ground.

The suspect walked out this evening and was immediately arrested by police SWAT team officers.

The final hostage, a woman, ran out shortly afterward, ending a drama that began 5 1/2 hours earlier.

Police and witnesses say the man, who claimed to have a bomb, walked into the office shortly before 1 p.m. Eastern time and took several hostages. Authorities say he let a woman with an infant go immediately and at least one other woman got out about two hours later before the man surrendered shortly after 6 p.m.

A law-enforcement official had earlier confirmed the suspect's identity as Leeland Eisenberg, and said he had demanded to speak with Senator Clinton.

(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

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