Kinghorne St, Nowra, closed by police amid ‘mental health’ situation

A busy South Coast CBD street has been closed by police as officers negotiate with an armed man. Here’s the latest.

Police negotiations have concluded.

A four-hour standoff between an armed man and police in a busy NSW South Coast CBD has ended peacefully, a police spokeswoman has said.

About 9.30am today, a section of Kinghorne St, Nowra, was closed off to the public after emergency services responded to a “mental health situation”.

Police told The South Coast News officers were responding to reports a man was wielding a knife in a front yard on the busy street, between between Douglas St and Plunkett St.

Negotiations with the man began after 10am, where nearby businesses were told to lock their doors and stay inside.

Police and the tactical and dog squad attended the scene and remained there for the entire duration of the incident.

A business owner in the area - who wished to remain nameless - said police were “doing their best” and said the situation seemed “under control”.

“There hasn’t really been any shouting, anything crazy like that,” he said.

A NSW Police spokeswoman said, after more than four hours, the situation had ended “peacefully” just after 2pm and the man had been taken to the Shoalhaven Hospital for assessment.

Police refused to comment on whether any charges would be laid.

Live Traffic NSW reveals the section of street has reopened to public.