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Updated May 21, 2026 \u2014 10:20pm,first published 8:33pm<\/p>\n
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Remove items from your saved list<\/a> to add more.<\/p>\n AAA<\/p>\n Police have arrested a man in Melbourne\u2019s CBD after a verbal threat was made that compelled the city council to ask its staff to stay away from the area.<\/p>\n The threat, the exact details of which are unknown, prompted the City of Melbourne to text staff to stay away due to \u201cthe possible threat of an incident occurring on Bourke Street tonight\u201d after 7pm.<\/p>\n On Thursday evening, police said they had a 31-year-old man of no fixed address and were questioning him over the incident.<\/p>\n Police said the exact circumstances of the incident are still being investigated, but revealed a call was placed to a Sydney TV newsroom advising of an apparent threat in Melbourne\u2019s CBD. The TV newsroom alerted Crimestoppers.<\/p>\n Inspector Dale Huntington said the man is alleged to have delivered the threat mid-afternoon. \u201cAt the moment, we\u2019re just trying to understand what was said, and what was written\u201d, he said.<\/p>\n \u201cHe did have some, some possessions and a bag, so that\u2019s gone back to be further investigated by [the] Critical Incident Response Team.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAt no stage was the public, whether in the CBD or coming into the CBD, at any time threatened \u2026 the CBD was quite safe.\u201d<\/p>\n Pressed on why the council felt compelled to take an extra step in alerting it staff, Huntington replied: \u201cI can\u2019t answer what the council does, but anyone who sends out a safety message \u2013 that is fine. We will work with council on how that message went out because it wasn\u2019t a policing message to go out to all.\u201d<\/p>\n A spokesperson for Melbourne council said they sent the text \u201cas a precaution to protect the safety of our staff\u201d.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Police significantly increased their presence in the city while looking for the man, who was eventually arrested as the McDonald\u2019s in Swanston Street.<\/p>\n \u201cWe take any threat seriously in the Melbourne CBD,\u201d Huntington said.<\/p>\n Start the day with a summary of the day\u2019s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter<\/a>.<\/p>\n Save<\/p>\n You have reached your maximum number of saved items.<\/p>\n![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/589d52f570b121b168572fd95d7d921fe95a9e4af5e94fb48a0eb4f801963437.jpeg\")
The message sent to council staff by the City of Melbourne.<\/p>\n![\"Police](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/bf8db5c1861070d1e9b17eaafaeca5c10c8d44803376bc7f24a29ee9bd77333a.jpeg\")
Police revealed they acted after receiving a tip-off from Crimestoppers.Alexander Darling<\/p>\n