A police spokesman confirmed they evacuated the building due to an incident this lunchtime.

It follows the evacuation of Queensgate Shopping Centre this morning after a suspicious package was found. This turned out to be a false alarm.

A spokesman for the police this was another “suspicious incident.”

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Eyewitness Shaun Nixon said: “I’ve just been outside passport office as police arrived.

“They have hauled one person into a van surrounded by armed police.

“Bomb disposal arrived but were not in a hurry.”

Police have arrested a man in his 50s on suspicion of making a bomb hoax.

He is being taken into custody and will be interviewed at Thorpe Wood Police Station.