A man reportedly armed with a knife is holding several members of staff hostage at a Job Centre Plus in Newcastle, Northumbria Police has said.
Police were called to Clifford Street in Byker at around 8 am on Friday morning after reports of a disturbance at the job centre.
Reports state specialist negotiators are currently at the scene, and the roads around the job centre have been closed until further notice. A student accommodation, which is located close to the job centre, has also been evacuated, police confirmed.
A Northumbria Police spokesperson said: “Officers have attended and found a man armed with a knife had entered premises and it is believed that several members of staff are being held there. Several other staff members have left.”
“We are currently dealing with the incident but there are no reports of any injuries at this time, the spokesperson added.
The United Kingdom has witnessed several terror attacks over the past few months, leaving national security the biggest talking point of the current elections.
