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A man has been arrested “without further incident” after an operation by an armed criminal squad in the central Auckland suburb of Mt Albert this afternoon.
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Police are close to St Lukes Mall as residents are warned to stay away. Source: 1 NEWS
Police said they approached a “suspicious vehicle” in Whitaker Place shortly after 2:30 pm today and tried to speak to the driver.
“Before officers could speak to the driver, he fled the area,” Inspector Jason Homan said.
Police did not pursue the man. He was later found at an address on Mt Albert and had barricaded himself inside.
Horman said he “made threats that he was in possession of a firearm.”
“The police had been negotiating with the man and a period later he left the property where he was arrested without further incident.”
No firearms were found at the address at this time, he said.
Horman said no charges have been filed “at this time.”
The cords in the area have been lifted.
Previously, the police blocked St Lukes Road between the intersections of New North Road and Taylors Road while the armed criminal squad operation was underway.
Police dogs and a host of squad members are stationed next to the intersection near St Luke’s Mall.
One man, who did not want to be identified and who lives near the house in question, said he was told “fuck off.”
Several members of the public are watching the incident unfold.
According to local Anna Radford, one police officer was carrying a “huge gun” while another was crouched in front of a house.
A police car was parked on a path and helicopters could also be seen flying around the area before.
