Hostages held after 'multiple' shootings

[Peacetrain]

(CNN) -- Authorities are at the scene of a building in Binghamton, New York, where there are "multiple" shooting victims and hostages are being held, a county spokesman said.

Broome County Director of Emergency Services Brett Chellis said there is an "active" shooting situation at the American Civic Association, and that several law enforcement agencies are at the scene.

Chellis did not provide numbers of victims or hostages, and had no further details.

Pressconnects.com, a local media Web site, said at least four people were shot and about 20 people had been taken hostage.

Binghamton is about 75 miles south of Syracuse, New York.

According to the United Way of Broome County Web site, the civic association assists immigrants and refugees with immigration and personal counseling, resettlement, citizenship, family reunification.

http://www.cnn.com/2009/CRIME/04/03/binghampton.shooting/index.html