Melbourne siege false alarm: police

A hostage siege in a Melbourne apartment building has been declared a false alarm by police.

Specialist officers rushed to suburban Ripponlea about 2pm on Tuesday responding to reports two people were being held hostage by a person with a firearm.

However, police later downgraded the threat and confirmed they were treating the incident as a mental health case, with a 32-year-old woman taken to hospital for assessment.

Police said the woman was being assessed and there was no risk or danger to the public at any stage.