A man has been charged with explosives and bomb hoax offences after a major street in Melbourne’s CBD was locked down.
The man, 33, was arrested on Collins St shortly after midday on Wednesday.
Officers searched the man’s vehicle and allegedly found a firearm and quantity of drugs.
Detectives also executed a search warrant at a North Shore address where they seized items including suspected explosive devices.
The Parkville man has been charged with make/possess explosive substance, bomb hoax, traffic drug of dependence, prohibited person possess firearm, possess weapons, possess proceeds of crime and theft of a motor vehicle.
He was remanded to face Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on June 20.
Wednesday’s chaos kicked off about midday, with police crews swarming the busy city street.
It was blocked off in both directions between Queen and Elizabeth streets but it has since reopened.
Businesses and buildings were also forced to shut, with trams also stopped from going through the street.
In a statement, police said the incident was not terror related.
“Police arrested a 33-year-old man on Collins St in Melbourne’s CBD shortly after midday today,” police said.
“He will now be interviewed in relation to an ongoing Arson and Explosives Squad investigation.
“The matter is not terror related and there is no immediate threat to community safety.”
Photos from the scene show police pulling apart a white Volkswagen vehicle on the street.
The Bomb Response Unit was deployed to conduct a safety check on a vehicle in Collins St.
A “suspicious item” was reportedly found inside.
Detectives pulled a can of petrol out of the car and bagged up black knuckle dusters in an evidence bag.
The area was cleared about 1pm, with workers allowed out of buildings and onto the street about 1.30pm.