Cops with chainsaw surround unit in city’s east

Officers have sent up a drone as part of a major police operation in Sydney’s eastern suburbs, where a suspected armed man is holed up in a unit. Police have blocked all access to the area.

Police have sent up a drone as part of a major police operation in Sydney’s eastern suburbs, which is now into its fourth hour.

The situation began about 11am with a man, believed to be armed, holed up inside an apartment, which is close to a Catholic high school

Heavily armed NSW Police officers, including one seen holding a chainsaw, surrounded a unit block in Randwick.

Residents on Dudley St said the road had been blocked off to all traffic and pedestrians since about 11am, when police filled the area and directed people to stay indoors.

At 3.45pm, heavily armed police officers were still blocking residents and other pedestrians from walking through the street,

Both side of the street were barricaded off with police cars, with no access granted to any resident.

An armed NSW Police officer seen on Dudley St at Randwick, in Sydney’s east, where a major police operation is underway. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

Just before 4pm two officers stood beside a white van in Leete Park, a block behind the complex, preparing to send the drone up.

It then flew up into the air and hovered a block away from the siege.

Meanwhile police were spotted taking water bottles into the building believed to be at the centre of activites.

At 11am, at least a dozen officers with machine guns, along with officers from the Public Order and Riot Squad surrounded a unit block, which is beside a Catholic high school.

NSW Police have closed off Dudley St at Randwick where a man is holed up inside a unit.

“Something major going on in our Dudley St, Randwick (no cars, pedestrians, riot police) - closed from St Paul’s Street to Coogee Bay Road,” a resident posted on social media.

In a statement, police urged people to avoid the area.

“A police operation is underway at Dudley St, Randwick, following reports of a concern for welfare. Police are speaking with a man inside a unit,” the statement said.

“Specialist police are on scene. The public are urged to avoid the area.”

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