Police shut down Bridge Street in Coniston this afternoon in response to an unspecified threats at the Department of Community Services building.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Shortly after 2pm, police closed roads at the Gladstone Avenue intersection to the west and Tate Street to the east.
The risk was heightened as DOCS offices are located across the road from Coniston Public School, which was due to let out its students at 3pm.
Fire Brigade, ambulance and Hazmat crews were placed on standby at Tate Street.
It is understood that police located a suspicious package in a stairwell in the building, which turned out to be a bag.
Shortly afterwards, police put two men into a van.
Witnesses stated that one man was calling out that he was from Luke’s Army, a group which claims to fight what it considers corruption inside child protection services all over the world.
It is understood the men were inside the building when the police placed the street in lockdown.
Bridge Street was re-opened to traffic at 3.05pm.