Police close major road in Melbourne CBD as police chase ‘erratic’ man taking PETROL cans and ‘hazardous material’
- Victoria Police have arrested an “erratic” man in Melbourne’s CBD court precinct
- Police cars barricaded several streets in the CBD in a major police operation
- The man was arrested at 7.45am and delays are expected until the morning
- Williams Street, between Bourke Street and Lonsdale Street, has been blocked off
By Ashlea Knickel for Daily Mail Australia
Published: 23:44, 19 September 2022 | Updated: 00:49, 20 September 2022
Police arrested an ‘erratic’ man carrying chemicals in a cart during a major operation in Melbourne’s CBD.
Police cars cordoned off several streets in Melbourne’s judicial district on Tuesday morning in response to reports of a man in possession of petrol cans and “hazardous materials” inside a building on William Street.
The man was arrested around 7.45 am and taken to hospital under police guard.
An “erratic” man with a cart was arrested on Tuesday morning after entering a building in Melbourne’s CBD court district.
Witnesses said the man’s cart was “full of chemicals or explosives” and police alleged he was carrying petrol cans and “hazardous material”.
“The scene has since been declared safe and there is no ongoing threat to the community,” a Victoria Police spokesman said.
Fire Rescue Victoria said the incident was under control at 8.15am after firefighters determined there was no flammable risk.
Witnesses Sam Di Palma and Daniel Safstrom said they were having coffee when they saw a man in the building with a cart and officers trying to talk to him.
An “erratic” man was arrested in a major sting operation in Melbourne’s CBD on Tuesday morning
William Street (above) has been blocked in both directions by a major police operation in Melbourne’s CBD
“A guy (was) behind a counter with a cart full of chemicals or explosives,” Di Palma told the Australian Associated Press.
Safstrom said the police “sent one of their guys to sit down and negotiate, so they both took a chair.”
‘I’m a bit surprised to be honest. It’s something different,” he said.
Police said the man was arrested at 7.45am on Tuesday after reports he was in possession of petrol cans and “hazardous materials”.
A major police operation (above) in Melbourne’s CBD has blocked traffic in both directions
The building the man entered houses offices for CGU Insurance, the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions, Court Services Victoria and law firms including Gordon Legal and Baker McKenzie.
Traffic on Williams Street, between Bourke Street and Lonsdale Street, was blocked in both directions. Tram services were also diverted.
Delays are expected to continue in the CBD into the morning as emergency services work to clear the scene.
Photos show police and fire crews working in the area as helicopters fly overhead.