Gold Coast police evacuate Southport building after firearms and grenades were surrendered in Southport
Police have lifted an emergency lockdown after they shut down a street for almost four hours following an incident including grenades and firearms.
Gold Coast
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Police have lifted an emergency lockdown at Bay St in Southport after the bomb squad determined the area was safe.
The street was shut down at about 8.30am on Wednesday after a man delivered three grenades and three semi-automatic rifles in a black duffel bag to a Ashkan Tai Lawyers.
No threats were made.
The presence of the military style weapons meant two experts from the Australian Defence Force were require to determine if they were safe.
Gold Coast police Senior Sergeant Jim Winter said the grenades were inert.
The rifles will be test fired by police.
“I’m not too sure why they have been delivered to that address, but that is subject to the inquiries,” he said.
Sen Sgt Winter said investigators knew the identity of the man who dropped the weapons off.
“They are trying to track that person down to ask why they were delivered here,” he said.
Sen Sgt Winter said the rifles were “quite dangerous and good to have off the street”.
After the bomb experts had examined the weapons, detectives were seen carrying a large black duffel bag and placing it in the back of an unmarked car.
Ashkan Tai Lawyers director Ashkan Tai and his staff were seen waiting outside for their office to be reopened.
Mr Tai declined to comment.
It is understood they have all returned to work.
Earlier: Bomb squad shuts off street
A Gold Coast street has been shut off to the public as a bomb squad investigate an incident including grenades and firearms.
Gold Coast police were called to Bay Street in Southport at around 8.20am after three grenades and three firearms were surrendered to an office building.
A Gold Coast police spokesperson said no threats had been made.
Police have made an emergency declaration under the Public Safety Preservation Act, cutting off the public from Bay Street between Davenport Street and Rawlins Street.
They are urging residents and locals within the exclusion zone to stay inside their properties, while occupants of the office building were evacuated.
Police are investigating and conducting emergency operations in the area.
Ashkan Tai Lawyers has been evacuated.
A coffee shop across the road is still in operation but police tape is preventing the public from venturing past the coffee shop.
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