Sydney’s Downing Centre court complex evacuated

Sydney’s main court complex has re-opened following an evacuation and investigation of a potential suspicious package.

Police at the scene.

Sydney’s main court complex was evacuated briefly on Friday morning as police investigated a suspicious package.

The police operation began shortly before 10am, as about 10 police cars and bikes rushed to Liverpool St in Sydney’s CBD.

Several police cars were also seen at the other end of the complex, on Elizabeth St.

Parts of Liverpool St and Elizabeth St were blocked off.

As the public and staff were evacuated, two officers were checking the security surveyor belt.

Police said they were investigating reports a suspicious package was found inside the Downing Centre complex.

An exclusion zone was set up with road closures on Elizabeth, Goulbourn and Liverpool Streets.

The community was urged to avoid the area and follow police instructions.

One police officer was seen walking up to two people sitting on the curb, near the court complex, asking what their names were.

Once they answered, the officer walked off.

The owner of the building across the road asked a police officer if they needed to be evacuated, to which he responded “not at this stage”.

But by 10:30am, police re-opened the complex and removed the police tape at its entrance.