Police say reports of a gun at Southern Cross station were a false alarm
Crowds at Southern Cross station watched as heavily armed police swooped following reports a man was seen with a gun. The drama disrupted trains but has since been declared a false alarm.
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Armed police stormed Southern Cross railway station this evening following reports a man was spotted with a gun, halting trains and forcing platforms to close.
The report has since been found to be false.
Witnesses said a man with a firearm wrapped in a pair of tracksuit pants was found on a V/Line service from Albury, sparking a full-scale response by police as crowds swelled by White Night revellers watched on.
Victoria Police have released a statement saying no danger has been found.
“Police responded to a report of a man observed with something wrapped in black fabric at Southern Cross station just before 6pm.
“The item was perceived to look like a firearm but no firearm was actually sighted.
“A search of the railway station was conducted, trains were stopped at some platforms and passengers moved away as a precaution.
“A male was initially spoken to by police and has been released.
“The area will continue to be patrolled but there is no perceived danger to the public and train services will resume as normal shortly.
Earlier, a witness posted a photo to Twitter of an evacuated platform and said people were being “asked to move with hands above head.”
Melbourne Southern Cross Station just got evacuated.
— Jarryd 🨠(@JMotion0) August 24, 2019
Lots of police, people being asked to move with hands above heads. It’s crazy. pic.twitter.com/MZkQd7RYQi
Jarryd McGregor was waiting to board a train on another platform when he saw heavily armed police running towards platform one.
“I was getting ready to board on platform three at around 6.15pm, and police started running around platform one, some with riot shields.
“Before long they had started evacuating people from platform one with their hands above their heads, and that evacuation order was also spread to other platforms.
“Staff at the station mentioned there was a gun sighting. But as far as I heard, no shots had been fired.
Heavily armed Police at Southern Cross responding to reports of a man with what appeared to be a gun. One man currently assisting with enquiries @9NewsMelb pic.twitter.com/pwjZeWFpF0
— Andrew Lund (@andrew_lund) August 24, 2019
“All trains up that end of the station were halted.
“And only in the last half-hour or so have the staff begun to move people to new platforms for replacement trains.
Victoria Police spokeswoman Leonie Johnson said a man is assisting police.
“Police are currently responding to a report of a man observed with what appeared to be a firearm at Southern Cross Station just before 6pm.
ok so basically southern cross station is at a standstill bc there was someone with a gun wrapped in tracksuit pants on the train,, police still searching for the guy,, kinda wild tbh. better safe than dead tho
— loona's bitch (예림) ✨ (@chuuphoric) August 24, 2019
“A search is being conducted of the station and a man is currently assisting police with their inquiries.
“Trains have been stopped at some platforms and passengers moved away as a precaution.
Delays of up to 70 minutes are in place on the Seymour Line.”