A man armed with a crossbow sparked an armed offenders squad call-out in Palmerston North this afternoon, which ended in a downtown store catching fire.
The police central communications centre said police were called just after 4pm by concerned bystanders.
The offender was holed up in a herbal remedy store.
Police lobbed in tear gas and immediately the shop burst into flames, One News reported.
Palmerston North Fire Station confirmed three fire engines had been called to the scene and were still in attendance.
It was not yet known if anyone had been hurt in the incident, but an ambulance was seen racing from the scene.
A witness to the events, David Fitchett, said a man inside the store smashed the store's windows and aimed his crossbow at police.
A car broke through the cordon and was heading toward the store when armed police went in with "stun grenades", he told Three News.
The dog team quickly followed and the man was reportedly taken into custody.
"It was a bit scary,... I was pretty concerned for the guy," Mr Fitchett said.
- NZPA
Man with crossbow sparks armed offenders call-out
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