A man has been arrested after armed police swooped on Liverpool city centre.
Officers were called to Whitechapel at around 4.55pm on Friday (June 5) following reports of a person allegedly seen carrying a weapon in the local area.
A significant police presence was visible near the Everyman Cinema in the Metquarter before armed officers detained the suspect at a nearby location.
He has since been arrested on suspicion of possession of an offensive weapon and taken into custody for questioning while enquiries into the incident remain ongoing.
Chief Inspector Phil Thompson said: “We understand the worry that people in the city centre may have seeing armed police.
“Rest assured that this incident has been dealt with and there is no wider risk to the public.
“When information is received indicating that people are in possession of weapons, we will always look to respond as quickly and effectively as possible, which means utilising our armed officers.
“If you saw or heard anything, come forward as we continue to investigate.”
Anyone with information is urged to contact Merseyside Police on social media via X or Facebook @MerPolCC. You can also report information via their website or by calling 101 quoting incident reference 858.