Arrest after London street evacuated over bomb threat

Last Updated 10:43 a.m. ET

(CBS/AP) LONDON - Police said they have made an arrest following a three-hour stand-off, after a man reportedly wearing gas canisters walked into an office building on a busy central London street, threatening to blow it up.

According to police, a 50-year-old man entered Shropshire House at 179 Tottenham Court Road with what witnesses said were gas canisters strapped to his body. Computer equipment and papers were tossed out of a fifth-floor window.

The building and others around it were evacuated, though there are reports some people could not get out of Shropshire House.

BBC News reported that hostages were ordered to throw computers from the window by the suspect, according to an internal email from Camden Council.

Police negotiators were at the scene, as were police marksmen. Sky News reported they established telephone contact with the man, and that after three hours an arrest was made.

A shirtless man in green khaki pants was seen being led out with his hands behind his back by two unarmed officers. Armed officers followed behind.

Police are searching the building for any explosives before lifting the cordon, which was set up for 300 yards surrounding the building.

Goodge Street Tube station had been closed, with subway traffic bypassing the stop, and bus routes have been diverted. The police cordon has been extended to 300 yards, with hundreds of people evacuated.

In a video posted on YouTube, a woman described the man as a former customer of her company, Advantage, which trains and hires HGV (truck) drivers. She said he arrived at the offices with gas canisters strapped to his body, and threatened to blow up the offices.

The Huffington Post, which is located in a building around the corner, reports that its offices have been evacuated.