Cessnock siege: Tactical police swarm a unit block amid studies of a hostage state of affairs

An ongoing police operation has seen heavily armoured vehicles line a street in a small town in the Hunter Valley.

A large police presence, including a Bearcat, was seen outside an apartment block on Cooper St in Cessnock, about 160km northwest of Sydney, on Monday afternoon.

Footage showed dozens of locals watching on in shock as police closed off the streets. 

‘A police operation is underway in Cessnock,’ NSW Police said in a statement.

‘There are no threats to the public.

‘Further information will be released at an operationally appropriate time.’

Local MP Dan Repacholi urged locals to ‘please avoid the area’. 

More to come…