Patient's father holding hostages at Texas hospital: Officials

HOUSTON: A distraught father of a patient at a hospital in north of Houston in Texas may be holding at least two people hostage, according to officials.

However, it was not immediately clear if the man was armed, Harris County Sheriff's Office said today.

The officer said it believed the man was a distraught parent of a patient and at least two people were being held hostage at the Tomball Regional Medical Center.

A supervisor at the county's emergency dispatch center said the situation was in the critical care unit and began around 7 p.m.

The hospital is on a 150-acre campus about 30 miles northwest of Houston.

Police in the area did not immediately respond to a message. No other information was immediately available.

Visitors at the hospital have stated on social media that about 50 vehicles belonging to law enforcement are blocking roads around the medical center.