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Police swarmed an office block in Liverpool city centre today where negotiators were seeking "direct contact" with a man claiming to have a "suspect package".

The bomb scare was sparked at 10.30am when workers in Silkhouse Court, a 14-storey office block, activated the fire alarm and chose to evacuate the building.

In the four hours that followed, several streets were cordoned off as negotiators entered the building and a bomb disposal unit arrived on the scene.

Armed police officers were also seen entering a building opposite Silkhouse Court, Tithebarn Street, reports the Liverpool Echo.

The armed siege appeared to draw to close at around 2.30pm when a middle-aged white man, believed to be a suspect, was filmed being escorted into a van.

He was led into the vehicle at gunpoint by two police marksmen.

Witnesses filmed his detention from an office on an upper floor.

Shortly after, Merseyside Police confirmed a man had been detained, adding that he would be questioned at a local police station, while the area remained closed.

Police said the drama got under way at around 10.30am this morning when a man walked into offices on the fifth floor of Silkhouse Court.

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Sources have told the Echo that the incident is linked to a confrontation in the offices of boat insurance firm, Groves, John and Westrup.

This has not been confirmed.

(Image: Liverpool Echo / Jack C)

According to officers, staff at the company decided set off the fire alarm and perform an evacuation amid concerns over the man's behaviour.

He reportedly claimed to have a "suspect package".

(Image: Liverpool Echo / Samantha Thompson)

Subsequently, several streets in the area around and including Tithebarn Street were cordoned off and other buildings were evacuated, too.

Specialist negotiators were also called in.

(Image: Liverpool Echo / Neil Edwards)

At the time, police said: "Merseyside Police is dealing with a security alert at a business premises in Silkhouse Court, Tithebarn Street, Liverpool.

"Officers were called to the scene at about 10.30am today following reports of a man acting suspiciously and claiming to be in possession of a suspect package.

"The fire alarm was activated by staff, who evacuated themselves.

"All employees have since been fully accounted for.

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"The man is still inside the building and negotiators are seeking direct contact with him, in order to safely resolve the situation.

"No one is injured and a cordon has been put in place as a safety precaution.

"There are a number of road closures in place, they are Tithebarn Street, Old Hall Street at the junction with Union Street.

"Police are advising motorists to avoid the area.

"There is also disruption at Chapel Street, George Street and Exchange Street at the junction of Dale Street."

The cordon was later extended on Tithebarn Street to its junctions with Chapel Street, Bixteth Street and Exchange Street East.

It was then extended again to its junction with Pall Mall.

Two bomb disposal units arrived at the scene. Armed police then entered a building opposite Silkhouse Court.

A crew from Merseyside Fire and Rescue and police dogs were also at the scene as a major investigation got under way and the police helicopter circled overhead.

Liverpool law firm MSB Solicitors were among the businesses affected.

One of their employees Emma Carey, a family law solicitor working on the 13th floor of Silkhouse Court, said most people initially thought it was a routine fire drill.

It was only as she and her colleagues got out of the building and saw police that they became concerned that it was more than a drill.

She said: “We moved to Exchange Flags to make sure everybody was accounted for and then people became a little bit frightened, and saying ‘It’s a bomb. It’s a bomb’.”

At Liverpool Chamber of Commerce, on the junction of Old Hall Street and Chapel Street, staff were told they could leave the building but not return.

Chamber chief executive Jenny Stewart ordered sandwiches for all chamber staff from a sandwich shop within their own building.

Ms Stewart said: “We were due to have a big Dragons’ Den style pitching session today but nobody can get in.

“There are a lot of police dogs and members of the bomb disposal squad outside our building.

“We have been told there is no imminent danger here.

“We are awaiting police updates and following their instructions so if they want us to go home we will do that.”

Speaking from inside the police cordon, Michelle Helsby, who also works at the Chamber of Commerce, told the Echo she could see police and army personnel.

She said: “We have been assured that everyone is safe and everyone is carrying on working as normal.”

(Image: Liverpool Echo / Helen Cooper)

Witnesses filmed the man being led into a police van from an office.

Police said: "Merseyside Police can confirm that a man has been detained following an incident at a business premises in Silkhouse Court, Tithebarn Street, Liverpool today, Friday, 8 January.

"He will be taken to a police station on Merseyside where he will be questioned.

(Image: Liverpool Echo)

"No one has been injured during the incident and the site will remain cordoned off until a search of the premises has been completed.

"Thanks to residents, businesses and motorists for their continued patience."

Recap the action as it happened in the Echo's live blog.