Emergency exclusion zone declared as police respond to roof incident at Cairns Central

A man who scaled a roof at Cairns Central on Monday and sparked a massive emergency services operation that shut down part of the Cairns CBD has “come down of his own accord”.

Emergency services personnel attend a scene at Cairns Central Shopping Centre, where a man scaled onto the awning of the centre and refused to come down. Police have set up a Public Safety Declaration Zone around the intersection of Shields and McLeod Street. Picture: Brendan Radke

A man who scaled a roof at Cairns Central on Monday and sparked a massive emergency services operation that shut down part of the Cairns CBD has “come down of his own accord”.

A Public Safety Preservation Act alert was sent by police about 10.30am on Monday, announcing an exclusion zone between Spence and McLeod Streets, Sheridan Street through to Aplin Street, Bunda Street and Hartley Street.

A man had earlier in the morning scaled a roof at Cairns Central and was refusing to come down for several hours.

There was no threat to the public, police said.

The PSPA was revoked at midday.

A man was seen scaling the Cairns Central shopping centre on Monday morning, allegedly ripping cables and lighting out from the ceiling. Picture: Brendan Radke

Earlier in the morning, onlookers reported the man was pacing back and forth on the roof at the corner of Spence and McLeod Streets, while emergency services were on scene trying to coax him down.

Initially, attempts to get the man down involved a large blue ladder which had been set up for him, but witnesses reported he kicked it away.

A large crowd gathered to watch the man on the Cairns Central roof, before police set up a Public Safety Declaration Zone around the intersection of Shields and McLeod Street. Picture: Brendan Radke

Bystanders also said a police negotiator was onscene attempting to get the man to come down safely, however, the man wasn’t complying with their requests.

An exclusion zone has been declared between Spence and McLeod Streets, Sheridan Street through to Aplin Street, Bunda Street and Hartley Street. Picture: Supplied.

The ladder was then placed back onto the side of the building where police secured it to the building.

After several further unsuccessful attempts to talk the man down, bystanders reported the negotiator was seen speaking to the man’s family members a few meters away from the center.

Emergency services personnel attend a scene at Cairns Central Shopping Centre, where a man scaled onto the awning of the centre and refused to come down. Police negotiators were called in to try and talk the man down from the roof. Picture: Brendan Radke

It is understood they were assisting police in getting the man down safely.

About 11.50 am the man came down off the roof “on his own accord”, a witness said.

He was escorted by police to be assessed by Queensland Ambulance Service, where it was reported he had no physical injuries.

Originally published as Emergency exclusion zone declared as police respond to roof incident at Cairns Central