A man armed with a knife held several members of staff hostage at a job centre in Newcastle this morning, according to police.
Specialist negotiators were called to the scene at the Jobcentre Plus in the Byker area of Newcastle.
Police were called at 8am on Friday following reports of a man causing a disturbance.
Officers said a knifeman had entered the building and several members of staff were held.
The man is believed to be known to the job centre, and there were no reports of any injuries.
It is being treated as "an isolated incident."
Roads around the building were closed and no trains passed through through the area while officers dealt with the "ongoing situation."
Police confirmed all hostages had been released at around 10:40am - around two and a half hours after the siege began.