Police carried out a controlled explosion of the suspicious package at Wellington Central Police Station at 4.16pm.

A man is in custody after the army bomb squad was called in to blow up a suspicious package left in the foyer of Wellington Central police station.

A series of controlled explosions was carried out at the police station after a man reportedly made threats, and left a suspicious package in the foyer.

Crews in protective clothing could be seen handling a dark, hard-shell suitcase after the explosions.

ALEX LIU/FAIRFAX NZ The army bomb disposal robot was called to Wellington central police station after a bomb scare.

Police confirmed a 44-year-old man was in custody after being arrested at the police station.

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A loud bang was heard at 4.16pm when the army's explosive ordnance disposal team made the first controlled explosion. A second explosion happened at 4.26, and a third one at 4.45pm.

CAMERON BURNELL/ FAIRFAX NZ Police called in the army bomb disposal squad, and evacuated parts of the CBD after a suitcase was left in the foyer of the Wellington Central police station.

It is understood a member of the public entered the police station, made a verbal threat, and presented a suitcase or similar object.

Witness Mark Griffiths parked his work van in Victoria St across from the central police station when he heard a man yelling on the other side of the street.

"I can't recall exactly what he was saying, but he was yelling obscenities and seemed pretty angry," he said.

CAMERON BURNELL/FAIRFAX NZ A specialist in protective clothing approaches the dark green, hard-shelled suitcase after the controlled explosions.

"He looked about 40, was tidily dressed, and carrying a hard-shell briefcase.

"All of sudden he threw the case high into the air and it landed on the footpath.

"He walked off towards the police station still yelling. He turned back after a while and picked it up.

NZN VIDEO Wellington police station was evacuated and the bomb squad called in after a suspicious package was delivered.

"I'm not sure if the police picked him up or not, but after I went into the [nearby] State building and then all this happened."

The army team's specialist van was brought in and parked on Harris St, near the police station's vehicle entrance, and a robot was brought out to detonate the package.

A bomb disposal team member was seen putting on his green protective gear at 4.56pm, with four police officers nearby.

BRAD FLAHIVE/FAIRFAX NZ Witness Mark Griffiths saw a man yelling at police and throwing a briefcase into the air.

He emerged from the police station five minutes later and removed his protective gear. By 5.10pm, the robot was being packed up.

Harris St was reopened about 5.15pm, and a man in white protective gear was seen in the police station entrance. He shook hands with police officers soon after, and a green, old-style travel suitcase was seen in the area.

The cordons at the busy intersection of Victoria and Willeston streets were lifted at 5.19pm.

CAMERON BURNELL/FAIRFAX NZ The army's bomb disposal squad gets ready to move in

The only people believed to have remained inside the cordons were drinkers at the Green Man pub in Victoria St, who were told by police that they were not allowed to leave.

In an earlier statement, police said the station was evacuated as a precaution after an "item of concern" was located in the foyer.

The neighbouring State Insurance tower was also evacuated about the same time as the incident. However, that turned out to have been because of an entirely coincidental fire drill.

CAMERON BURNELL/FAIRFAX NZ One of the bomb disposal squad in full protective gear, outside the police station.

The State Insurance building had a drill at 3.17pm but the threat at the nearby police station across Victoria St happened soon after.

"It was just coincidental that the bomb threat happened at the same time," an Air New Zealand employee working in the State Insurance building said.

Donna Cooke was on her way to an appointment in the State Insurance building.

CAMERON BURNELL/FAIRFAX NZ The suitcase is checked out in the aftermath of the controlled explosions.

"I got here about 4pm. I was just told by the police officer that I was not allowed in.

"They didn't say anything. I just overheard someone say there was a bomb threat."