Gunman kills 13, takes 40 hostage in New York state

Binghamton: A lone gunman began shooting on Friday in an immigration services building in Binghamton, New York, killing at least 14 people, a law enforcement source close to the situation said.

The source said more than a dozen were wounded and 20 to 40 people may have been taken hostage.

The man reportedly armed with a sophisticated rifle began shooting in the American Civic Association where a citizenship test for immigrants and refugees was on, the source said.

A local newspaper, the Press & Sun-Bulletin, said on its website that at least four people were shot and 41 people had been taken hostage.

It said sharpshooters from the city's SWAT team were poised outside the building.

Video from the scene showed a person - feared injured - on a stretcher being taken to an ambulance.

Asian men arrested

Eyewitnesses said more than three hours after the hostage situation began, two Asian men - in plastic handcuffs - were taken out of the backside of the building and led into unmarked police car.

Another group of people was also led out the backside of the building but it was not clear whether the hostage situation was over.

From the ground

Frank Rozboril, a spokesman for Our Lady of Lourdes Memorial Hospital, said the hospital had one person who had been at the association in the emergency room. Rozboril said the patient was being assessed.

FBI spokesman Richard Kolko said the FBI is sending hostage negotiators and an evidence response team to the scene. The agency has an office in Binghamton, and agents are being sent from offices in Albany and Syracuse as well.

The newspaper said the incident began around 1030 hours (ET). Nearby apartments were being evacuated and Binghamton High School is on lockdown, it said.

"Within minutes [the situation] turned into one just flooded with police," Bob Joseph, news director of WNBF Radio, told CNN.

The American Civic Association helps immigrants and refugees with a number of issues, including personal counseling, resettlement, citizenship and reunification, and provides interpreters and translators, according to a United Way of Broome County Web site, which is affiliated with the association.

Rashidun Haque, who owns a nearby convenience store, said police had him and his four customers stay inside and away from the windows.

"I'm really shaky because this kind of thing -- it's a small city, it's a beautiful city -- but nothing goes down serious like this," Haque said.