Armed police at restaurant incident (From Times Series)

Armed police at restaurant incident

7:30pm Friday 10th February 2012 in National News © Press Association 2011

Armed police are dealing with an incident in Glasgow city centre after a man was reported to be "acting suspiciously" in a restaurant.

A spokeswoman for Strathclyde Police said one man is involved in an "incident" at Nelson Mandela Place and police negotiators were at the scene.

Officers evacuated Amarone Restaurant and the surrounding buildings as a "precaution" after being called around 3.45pm.

The force said in a statement: "The man is currently contained, on his own, within the premises. Police negotiators are also in attendance."

Parts of Buchanan Street and West George Street have also been closed off. Buchanan Street subway station was closed at the request of the police, with travellers asked to use St Enoch station instead.

A large crowd of onlookers gathered behind the police cordon on West Nile Street.

Ambulance staff wearing helmets, fire crews and police officers were at the scene. A Royal Navy bomb disposal unit also arrived at the scene, along with police officers wearing balaclavas, carrying rifle bags.

Michael Irwin, a 19-year-old Glasgow University student from East Kilbride, had been travelling on the underground system to Buchanan Street when he and other passengers were told they would have to get off at St Enoch.

He said the area had been closed off since 4.30pm.

Mr Irwin said: "I saw armed officers with shields in the area and I'd heard something about a hostage situation but I'm not sure if it's true. The dog branch was brought in and there is just loads of emergency services all over the place."