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NSW parliament locked down over security scare NSW parliament locked down over security scare
(35 minutes later)
There is a bomb in this white car outside parliament, security say. pic.twitter.com/4y9w3USxCOThere is a bomb in this white car outside parliament, security say. pic.twitter.com/4y9w3USxCO
A security threat has put New South Wales parliament into lockdown. Police have closed Sydney’s Macquarie Street to traffic after a security threat put the New South Wales parliament into lockdown.
A white car was parked out the front of the building in Macquarie Street, Sydney with police being called to the scene just before midday on Friday. A white car was parked at the front of the parliament building, and police were called to the scene just before midday on Friday.
Premier Barry O’Farrell and treasurer Mike Baird were both at parliament when the threat was made and all entrances and exits to the building were sealed off with all staff told to remain inside. Police negotiators are talking to the man through his driver’s-side window from a distance, with the man handing over what appeared to be a note. A police officer approached the car with his hands up and took the note before walking away. Officers maintained a distance of several metres.
With @barryofarrell and we are locked in Parliament House -macq street closed & riot squad ready! Please don't panic pic.twitter.com/ZQWyBynQSo Police told Guardian Australia the man was threatening self-harm but would not give any further details.
Baird tweeted that O’Farrell had been escorted out of the building. The ABC political reporter Sarah Gerathy reported that a man inside the car had been threatening to set himself alight, quoting police sources.
A NSW police spokesman would only say a police operation was under way. Ambulance officers and firefighters were on standby and at least one team of heavily armed tactical response police had arrived on the scene.
Police were allowing pedestrians within about 200 metres of the car, and hundreds of passers-by crowded the area taped off by police trying to get a look.
Paul Chadwick, who was on the scene, told Guardian Australia the crowds were not a great distance away.
“I’m at the mouth of Martin Place and there are police tapes and police stopping people from leaving buildings,” he said. “But we would be no more than 100 paces from the car itself.”
The premier, Barry O’Farrell, and the treasurer, Mike Baird, were both at the parliament when the threat was made and all entrances and exits to the building were sealed off with all staff told to remain inside.
There was an initial report that it was a bomb scare but police could not confirm this.There was an initial report that it was a bomb scare but police could not confirm this.
With @barryofarrell and we are locked in Parliament House -macq street closed & riot squad ready! Please don't panic pic.twitter.com/ZQWyBynQSo
• Are you at the scene? Do you know more? Please email helen.davidson@theguardian.com
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