A man has been detained at a hospital in Greater Manchester after he claimed to be carrying a weapon. Police descended on Rochdale Infirmary this afternoon after reports of a "firearms incident".
Greater Manchester Police have since confirmed that the man was not carrying a weapon, and arrested him on suspicion of a public order offence. The force said reports made on social media about a potential 'hostage' situation were not true.
Pictures from the scene show a number of people - including staff and patients - gathered outside an entrance to the hospital on Whitehall Street in the town's centre this afternoon (10 May).
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According to several witnesses, security at the hospital escorted patients out of the building following the incident. One woman posted on Facebook: "I've just left there, the security ran us out for a firearms incident.
Another woman said: "I was escorted out too he was in the same queue as me about four people behind me." The Northern Care Alliance have been contacted for comment.
A spokesperson for GMP said: "There is no hostage situation. A man was detained after saying he had a weapon on him but he didn't. The incident has now concluded and a man was arrested on suspicion of a public order offence."
