Shoppers were evacuated from a busy shopping mall in Sydney’s west amid fears a live explosive was discovered in a carpark.
Officers rushed to Auburn Central shopping centre, about 20km west of the city’s CBD, at around midday on Wednesday.
Daily Mail understands authorities were contacted after a hand grenade was discovered at the centre, with specialist teams – including the NSW Police Dog Squad and Public Order Riot Squad called to assist at the scene.
The item turned out to be a replica hand grenade.
NSW Police confirmed a police operation was underway in the carpark of a shopping centre on Wales Lane in Auburn.
‘Officers attached to Auburn Police Area Command, along with specialist officers are in attendance,’ police said in a statement.
‘There is an ongoing evacuation of the shopping centre.
‘Queen Street, Vales Lane, Auburn Road, Harrow Road and Mary Street are closed, and members of the public are advised to avoid the area.
‘No further information is available at this time.’
The incident sparked chaos as hundreds of people were forced to leave the building.
A large group of people wearing high-vis vests were seen gathered outside the entrance of the shopping centre as the police operation unfolded.
As the situation erupted, one man claimed a ‘live bomb’ had been discovered in the carpark in a post on X.
Others said the centre was ‘swarming’ with officers and alarms were going off.
People were allowed back into the shopping centre several hours later.