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NSW parliament locked down over security scare NSW parliament standoff ends as police launch assault on car
(35 minutes later)
A security scare outside the NSW parliament in Sydney is over after police launched an assault on a car parked on the footpath outside and took the driver into custody.
A white car parked at the front of the parliament building prompted a lockdown of the parliament and the closure of Macquarie street by police about midday on Friday. Guardian Australia understands the man wanted to see the NSW premier, Barry O’Farrell.
Police negotiators spoke 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 and giving it to tactical response police wearing bulletproof vests. Officers maintained a distance of several metres. Out of the man’s sight, police approached the car with a firehose.
Shortly after 2pm police moved the crowds back a further 30 metres before launching an assault on the car. There were three loud bangs and then visible white smoke from the car. Police hosed the car down and several officers opened the car, dragging the man onto the footpath before putting him in handcuffs.
It is not yet known what caused the bangs or smoke.
The man was then treated on the side of the road by an ambulance officer.
A police spokesman said the man was arrested at 2pm and taken safely into custody. He is being checked over but does not appear to be seriously injured.
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
Police have closed Sydney’s Macquarie Street to traffic after a security threat put the New South Wales parliament into lockdown. The police earlier told Guardian Australia the man was threatening self-harm but would not give any further details.
A white car was parked at the front of the parliament building, and police were called to the scene just before midday on Friday. The ABC political reporter Sarah Gerathy reported the man inside the car had been threatening to set himself alight, quoting police sources.
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.
Police told Guardian Australia the man was threatening self-harm but would not give any further details.
The ABC political reporter Sarah Gerathy reported that a man inside the car had been threatening to set himself alight, quoting police sources.
Ambulance officers and firefighters were on standby and at least one team of heavily armed tactical response police had arrived on the scene.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.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. Paul Chadwick, who was on the scene, told Guardian Australia that 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.”“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. 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 did not confirm this.
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With @barryofarrell and we are locked in Parliament House -macq street closed & riot squad ready! Please don't panic pic.twitter.com/ZQWyBynQSoWith @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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