Police arrest man with several weapons in G20 security zone

Police have arrested a 53-year-old man in what was originally thought to be a G20 threat outside Novotel Hotel on the Esplanade.

The man was driving a silver four-door vehicle containing at least three gas cans, suitcases, a chain saw, a sledgehammer, a baseball bat, a cross-bow with the arrow in it, and what appeared to be water cans.

The man was pulled over by officers when they became suspicious of his behaviour, and spotted a homemade aluminum container fastened to top of the vehicle with a bungee cord.

Police Constable Hugh Smith told 680News “you can see the way the vehicle’s set up – [it] was designed to draw attention”.

“We’re going to go piece by piece and investigate […] this vehicle.”

Officers said the car would still have been stopped under normal circumstances.

Tracey had just stepped out of her office when she saw the chaos.

“There was somebody there with handcuffs, standing there surrounded by quite a few policeman, had his head down, kind of just wasn’t doing anything,” she told 680News, “I thought maybe he would be trying to explain the purpose of such utensils in your vehicle or whatever, but not so much!”

“Why would he ever drive downtown? And that box on top of his car, […] absolutely bizarre.”

Investigators said they no longer believe the case is related to the G20, and aim to uncover if it concerns the ongoing labour dispute at the Novotel.

The French delegation has set up in the Novotel for the summit meetings.

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