A man believed to be a Mr Fluffy homeowner from Canberra was arrested after he allegedly made a threat to the national counter terrorism threat hotline and sent parts of the Sydney CBD into lockdown on Friday.
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Police and the bomb squad searched the man's ute and found "nothing untoward" when they arrived at Phillip Street, between Hunter Street and Martin Place, about 4pm.
He was arrested without incident, detained under the Mental Health Act and was taken to St Vincent's Hospital to undergo a mental health assessment.
No charges had been laid on Friday night.
Superintendent Mark Walton said he believed the 39-year-old man had made the call to the hotline to draw attention to a personal grievance, but would not specify what that grievance was so as not to encourage others to take similar action.
When asked if Parliament House was the target of the bomb scare, Superintendent Walton said only that the threat was made against "some broad locations" within the city.
"Nothing untoward has been discovered at all this afternoon. We responded to the call, I think it's a very good example that the police are able to respond promptly and professionally to these types of incidents."
"If someone is concerned, suffering from mental health, we ask them to get early help, early intervention and support," Superintendent Walton said. "This isn't a way to resolve your concerns."
A daycare centre, the Pavilion Early Learning Centre, was inside the police exclusion zone and parents were told to wait on the other side of the police tape.
Police declared the operation over about 5.20pm. All roads in the area were reopened.
The incident comes less than six months after Man Haron Monis took 18 people hostage in the Lindt Cafe in Martin Place.
Monis, café manager Tori Johnston and Sydney barrister Katrina Dawson were killed when the 17-hour siege ended in the early hours of 16 December, 2014.
Editor's note: The name and image of the man involved in this incident have been removed from the originally published article.
