13 Jun 2011

Primary school locked down in armed police callout

7:29 pm on 13 June 2011

A West Auckland school was locked down for two hours as police searched for a man they believed to be armed.

The alert began just before 3pm on Monday. Police ordered everyone at Blockhouse Bay Primary School to remain indoors and out of sight as the armed officers carried out their search.

Some 600 pupils were kept inside the school and 150 parents were kept in the staff-room and offices while armed police scoured the area.

Principal Neil Robinson said pupils, parents and staff stayed underneath desks, and teachers kept the children busy watching DVDs and playing games.

A 46-year-old man from Henderson later gave himself up at the Henderson police station.