POLICE rushed to a shopping centre in the Sydney suburb of Hornsby this afternoon amid reports of a suspicious package.

Officers cordoned off a small area near The Blu Water Grill restaurant at the Westfield mall after a bag was left there. One man has been taken into custody.

The restaurant’s manager told 2GB Radio’s Ben Fordham the man bought a mineral water with $20, then walked out, leaving the bag behind and telling a waiter it contained a bomb.

The rest of the shopping centre continued to operate normally. Police now say the situation has been revolved, and the bomb threat was a hoax.

UPDATE: Hornsby. Police operation at shopping centre in Hornsby now resolved. All clear. — NSW Police (@nswpolice) February 13, 2015

UPDATE: Hornsby. One man in custody during police operation. No further information available at this time. — NSW Police (@nswpolice) February 13, 2015