Armed police cordon off Queenstown waterfront after man spotted holding umbrella like a rifle, pointing it at people

A significant armed police presence responded to the Queenstown waterfront this afternoon after a man was spotted holding a black umbrella like a rifle, cocking it and aiming it at people.

The whole waterfront was cordoned off and police were ushering people out of the Queenstown Gardens shortly after 2.30pm.

A police spokesperson initially said they were responding to “a report of a possible sighting of a firearm”.

A later statement said police confirmed it was, in fact, an umbrella, not a firearm.

Speaking to Stuff, Senior Sergeant Glenn Wilkinson said a member of the public called police after a man was spotted walking along Marine Parade carrying what looked to be a hunting rifle and pointing it at people.

Armed police responded to the Queenstown waterfront after a possible firearm sighting. Photo / James Allan

People at Queenstown Beach were turned away from the gardens after reports of a firearm sighting. Photo / James Allan

Police were using CCTV footage to locate the man and discovered he was carrying a black umbrella, not a firearm, said Wilkinson.

Wilkinson told Stuff CCTV footage showed the man carrying the umbrella as if it were a rifle, cocking it and pointing it at people.

“We’re still looking for him. It’s still potentially an offence to do that and scare people with something like that,” he said.

A photographer at the scene said members of the public were being turned away from the Queenstown Gardens.

“There are a lot of armed police all around and the Armed Offenders Squad is on its way.”