An armed man has been detained outside the ministerial wing of parliament house in Canberra, ACT police has confirmed.
According to a statement, “officers attended to a man who was observed to be armed with a knife”.
Police reportedly attempted to negotiate with the man. During the negotiation process, the man was tasered as he failed to relinquish the knife.
The man was then taken into custody.
Several officers were on the scene, securing the entrance.
“I understand that that matter is under control. It was not a national security incident, it is not being seen in that light,” foreign minister Julie Bishop told reporters on Thursday.
“I would like to acknowledge the swift and professional actions of Australian Federal Police outside the ministerial wing of parliament house in Canberra today,” justice minister Michael Keenan said.
“Our security agencies are the best in the world, and they are working every day to keep Australia safe.”
A spokesman for the speaker of the House of Representatives, Bronwyn Bishop, told Guardian Australia that there has been no change in parliamentary security, adding that “the building is safe”.
He would not comment on the details, saying the speaker’s office does not comment on individual security matters.
A spokesman for the president of the Senate, Stephen Parry, said that the office is monitoring the situation.
Parliamentary security was beefed up in September after prime minister Tony Abbott said there was “increased chatter” about potential threats to the building.
Abbott moved to reassure the public that security in parliament house was adequate, following the attack on Canada’s capital in October.
“I also want to assure Australians that security was upgraded at this parliament about six weeks ago in response to credible intelligence of a possible threat to this parliament,” he said.
“We believe that we are in a good position to respond to any hostile acts in this building. We are constantly reviewing the security of this and other public buildings. We are constantly reviewing the security of our military bases and our military personnel.”
A date for the man’s appearance before the ACT magistrates court has not yet been finalised.
