Toowoomba school, shops locked down amid search for potentially armed man
A Toowoomba school and shopping centre were placed in lock-down Friday morning after police declared an emergency situation sparked by reports of a stolen car and potentially armed man.
Officers responded to an address on Hunter Street in Centenary Heights at 6.55am before establishing an emergency exclusion zone over a suburban block opposite the suburb's state high school
Police outside the school and shopping centre in Centenary Heights on Friday morning.Credit:WIN News Toowoomba
"Specialist police are on the scene and members of the public inside the exclusion are urged to stay inside," police said. "Members of the public are asked to avoid the area."
Police revoked the emergency declaration about 10.45am after the man was "surrended to police without incident".
In a message posted to its Facebook page, Centenary Heights State High School had warned people to stay clear of the grounds while noting all students were safe.
"Parents will be notified when the lock-down is over," the school said.
One parent commented that police had turned away one of her sons, while her two other children were already inside.
Southtown Shopping Centre, located opposite the school but outside the emergency declaration zone, was also locked down.
"There is a domestic incident currently taking place in the neighbourhood, as a precautionary measure QPS have locked down the area to enable them to deal with the incident effectively," a post on its Facebook page said.
"We’ve been informed that our traders are safe."