The United Nations building in New York City was placed on lockdown on Thursday after a man with a gun was seen outside.
According to a tweet from Michelle Nichols of Reuters, UN spokesman Stéphane Dujarric said, “There’s police activity in front of the building. We are currently on lock down and staying in touch with NYPD.”
A spokesperson for the New York Police Department (NYPD) confirmed to Newsweek that officers were in a stand-off with the man as they urged him to put the gun down. The spokesperson told Newsweek that NYPD officers were “trying to develop a dialogue” with the man.
Videos posted on social media showed NYPD officers surrounding the man, as he stood near the entrance of the UN building. In a video posted to Twitter by DiscloseTV, NYPD officers can be heard urging the man to “put the firearm down.”
While being told to put the gun down, the man can be seen in the video pacing back and forth near the UN building.
Pictures posted to Twitter by Anthony DiLorenzo of PIX 11 News in New York showed dozens of NYPD vehicles surrounding the man.
This is a breaking news story and will be updated when more information becomes available.
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