Armed police have swarmed a Wellington street after reports of a person with a firearm. The incident is unfolding at the corner of Webb and Victoria Sts in Te Aro.
Video / NZHerald
A 37-year-old has been charged with unlawfully carrying an imitation firearm after causing chaos in Wellington.
Armed police swarmed Te Aro at 1.20pm after they received a report that someone had been seen with what looked like a firearm in their pocket.
The incident, which continued for about three hours,brought armed and regular police to the area.
Cordons were put up in Victoria and Webb Sts. At 6.15pm, police entered a Webb St building and took one person into custody.
A Herald reporter at the scene said one fire engine and one ambulance were also present.
They said they heard “three loud bangs from the building”.
Police said the loud bangs were from distraction devices, not gunshots, used in a bid to engage with the man.
Police were out in force on Webb St, Wellington, earlier today after a reported firearm incident.
A resident who had been living in the building for nine months told the Herald he had no idea what was going on and that police had not told him anything.
Police remained at the address conducting further inquiries this evening.
Cordons in the area have since been lifted.
Police later said a person has been charged with unlawfully carrying an imitation firearm and is due to appear in Wellington District Court on September 11.
