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Police empty-handed after Townsville siege

Fraser BartonAAP
Queensland police are still searching for man responsible for a six-hour siege in Townsville.
Camera IconQueensland police are still searching for man responsible for a six-hour siege in Townsville.

Townsville police are still searching for an armed man after storming a home and finding it empty at the end of a six-hour siege.

The man, believed to be about 30 years-old, had a previous warrant out for his arrest in relation to property offences before Thursday's incident.

Police were led to believe the known offender was inside a home in Clarke street, Garbutt, but found it empty when tactical response officers burst inside.

Inspector Roger White said police will be working overnight to apprehend the offender.

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"Everything that we had sourced and all our police inquiries led us to believe that he was there," Inspector White said.

"I've got no fears whatsoever that this offender is going to be a threat to anyone in the community.

"I just want to let everyone know that the police are out and about and we will find him."

Inspector White added that forensics are scouring through the home and could not find a firearm.

As part of the siege, police confirmed that a Special Emergency Response Team (SERT) were brought in from Cairns.

Officers were initially called to Clarke St about 10.30am on Thursday after reports of the man brandishing a firearm.

A second man was taken into custody at 11am, and police said that he is the brother of the man on the run.

Inspector White was stern in his message to the Townsville community.

"I want to make this very clear for the people in Townsville, police will use everything that we have at our disposal to apprehend this offender," he said.

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