Arrest in Melbourne CBD on Collins and Elizabeth Streets

SHOCKED shoppers watched on as police armed with rifles swept in during a dramatic arrest on Collins St in the CBD today. The man cuffed allegedly made racist threats and claimed to have a gun on a tram. WATCH THE FOOTAGE

Police making the arrest in the CBD this afternoon. Picture: Mikaela Day

THERE has been a dramatic arrest in Melbourne’s CBD today after a man was allegedly making racist threats and claiming to have a gun on a tram.

Bystanders feared for their lives and phoned police after the man was heard yelling abuse and wanting to “shoot everyone”.

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Young bloke arrested at Collins/Elizabeth tram stop attracting plenty of lunch time spectators #melbourne pic.twitter.com/PeW7hrTJEW

— Nick Curwood (@NickCurwood_34) April 27, 2018

Heavily-armed police halted the 109 tram. Picture: Mikaela Day

The man is expected to undergo a mental health check. Picture: Mikaela Day

The intersection of Collins and Elizabeth streets was shut down as police pounced.

Heavily-armed police halted the 109 tram about 12.45pm and arrested the man, with guns drawn.

Police searched the man but did not find a weapon.

The man, aged in his mid 30s, is expected to undergo a mental health check.

Witness Fulvio Cusumano was walking up Elizabeth Street when he heard a police officer yelling, “Get down on the ground! Get down on the ground!”

“I looked down the barrel of the gun as I was walking past. It was pretty freaky,” Mr Cusumano told the Herald Sun.

“My heart was beating pretty fast, but my first response was to pull out my phone and start filming while this woman (police officer) had her assault rifle out.

“There were three or four officers in full vested outfit, they had assault rifles and were waiting for this guy to get down on his stomach.”

He said the man had a blue suitcase and a backpack.

“A policeman grabbed the backpack and suitcase and pulled out a laptop, but the suitcase looked like it had a little bronze lock on it,” he said.

More to come