Dunedin street evacuated, police in attendance

7:26 am on 16 March 2019

Part of a cordoned off Dunedin street has now been evacuated and police are in attendance in connection with the Christchurch mosque shooting.

Police at the scene on Somerville St in Dunedin earlier today. Photo / Tim Brown

Police at the scene on Somerville St in Dunedin earlier today. Photo / Tim Brown Photo: Photo / Tim Brown

Police armed with guns are at the intersection between Somerville and Every Sts and armed offenders squad members have been photographed at a property on Somerville St.

Read more: Live: Forty-nine people dead after shootings at mosques

More police flooded the street about 7.30pm and a reporter at the scene at 8.20pm said residents near the property of interest had been evacuated and residents at the cordon told they were not allowed to return.

Alternative accommodation is being provided for residents who need it.

The street is blocked from Every St up to Cawdor Place.

Meanwhile, police were earlier this afternoon seen inspecting a property in Somerville St, Andersons Bay, and after 5pm part of the street was cordoned off.

Detectives and other officers could seen going into the property and searching it.

Police are refusing to comment about whether the search of the property is connected to what is unfolding in Christchurch, but the Otago Daily Times understands a vehicle involved in the incident was from Dunedin.

A car connected to the Christchurch terror attack was purchased in Dunedin two years ago and registered to a Sommerville St address.

- RNZ and Otago Daily Times

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