Gunman storms mall in Surfers Paradise, sets fire to business

A man was seen running through the mall in Surfers Paradise with a gun and petrol can before allegedly setting fire to a business.

A man has been arrested after allegedly running through a mall in Queensland with a gun and setting fire to a business.

The incident sparked panic as police raced to the scene in Cavill Ave, Surfers Paradise, at 6pm on Thursday.

Cavill and Orchid avenues were closed after police swarmed the area.

They were reopened by 7.45pm.

Emergency crews at the scene at Surfers Paradise. Picture: Facebook/Rhys Bko

A police spokeswoman said: “He has (allegedly) threatened staff and set a business alight on Surfers Paradise Boulevard before fleeing the scene.

“A short time later the man was taken into custody at an address on Cavill Ave.

“The fire has been extinguished.”

Police said there was no further threat to the community.

A Queensland Fire Department spokeswoman said four crews responded to the incident.

“We responded to a fire in a two-storey structure,” the spokeswoman said.

“There was some smoke issuing and we just contained the fire to the ground floor.

“The fire has been extinguished.”

Hospitality worker Francis Sanqui Carampot described the chaotic scenes.

“They were preparing for someone to go down at the stairs of the bar,” he told the Courier Mail.

“The police just told us to go inside and someone says that a person had a gun.

“The police were waiting for the suspect to come out.”