By Heather McNeill
Police have charged a 29-year-old man with a string of offences after a four-hour siege at a Perth pharmacy on Thursday night.
WA Police evacuated a shopping precinct in Applecross following reports a man claiming to have a gun had entered Pharmacy 777 and declared “today’s the day”.
Police were called to the premises on Canning Highway around 4.30pm, with tactical response group officers storming the chemist while the armed man was believed to be still inside.
Nine News Perth reported the man also claimed to have a bomb.
As of 6pm, there were no reports of injuries.
A witness told WAtoday they had pulled up to the shopping precinct to buy dinner when police cars appeared.
“Police started zooming everywhere and running into the pharmacy,” he said.
Pharmacy 777 Applecross was the target of an armed robbery on Thursday.
“Then more and more turned up, police with high powered rifles, more police in black, TRG I assume and we were moved out of Grill’d up the street.”
Emergency services have blocked off parts of Canning Highway and Riseley Street, with diversions in place.
At the height of the siege, police barricaded off the store’s windows and 9 News Perth helicopter vision showed officers with guns drawn, pointing at the entrance of the store.
Pharmacy 777 released a statement on Thursday evening.
“Due to the incident unfolding in the Applecross precinct, Pharmacy 777 Applecross will remain closed until further notice,” it read.
“At this time, we can reassure you our team has been evacuated and our key concern is the safety of our local community.”
The man will face a bedside hearing on Friday charged with carrying out an armed robbery, acting in a way that may create false apprehension and being armed in a way that may cause fear.
Parts of Canning Highway have been blocked off.