Police give Oxford Street building the all clear after evacuation

Police have given a government building in Sydney’s Oxford Street the all clear, after an earlier threat triggered an evacuation and major lockdown.

The building on the corner of Oxford and Wentworth streets, Darlinghurst, was evacuated after a threat was received about 4.40pm AEDT.

Emergency services cordoned off the area and began a floor by floor search of the building, which houses several government buildings, including the Department of Education and the Workers Compensation Commission.

About 7.30pm police announced that no suspicious items had been found and gave the building the all clear.

The evacuation was precautionary and there was no information to suggest the threat was terrorism-related, a NSW Police Force spokesman said. 

Officers remain at the scene.

Earlier media reports suggested a gunman had entered the building.

It is believed the operation was sparked after someone inside the building sent a message to a friend saying there was a gunman in the building.