Man arrested after Liverpool lockdown

A MAN has been arrested following the lockdown of Liverpool city centre which caused major disruption in the business district.

Merseyside Police sealed off the area around Silkhouse Court, Tithebarn Street and Army bomb disposal units were seen in the area as buildings were evacuated this morning.

A police statement said: “We can confirm that a man has been detained following an incident at a business premises in Silkhouse Court, Tithebarn Street, Liverpool today.

“He will be taken to a police station on Merseyside where he will be questioned.

“No one has been injured during the incident and the site will remain cordoned off until a search of the premises has been completed.”

As well as road closures of Tithebarn Street, Old Hall Street and at the junction with Union Street, there was also disruption at Chapel Street, George Street and Exchange Street at the junction of Dale Street.

One company on the fringe of the exlusion zone is PR company Influential.

One business seriously affected was Silkhouse Court coffee shop owned by Slovakian couple Peter Barboriak, 39, and Ivana Borosova, 35.

Barboriak said: “We were told to evacuate the shop at 10.30am today and we have been stood outside now for hours.

“This is seriously affecting our business because Friday is our busiest day.”

Barboriak said the Army were now on the scene and the police appeared to be expaning the exlusion zone.

“No-one is telling us anything. I hope we can get back into the shop as soon as possible.”

If you’ve been affected please contact Nick Jackson at TheBusinessDesk on 0161 238 4922.