Footscray High School sent into lockdown after armed man seen nearby in abandoned building

A Melbourne high school has been put on lockdown after a gunman was seen hiding in a nearby abandoned building.

Police barricaded themselves at a building on Barkly Street in Footscray, in Melbourne’s west, after it was reported that a man was seen with a knife and gun at around 2.15pm on Friday.

Officers tried to speak to a 44-year-old man for 90 minutes before he was tasered and arrested after negotiations failed.

Footscray High School was closed as a precaution while police tried to speak to the man.

“Police found bladed weapons and imitation firearms at the scene,” a spokesman said.

Witnesses told 7News they were “really scared” as they watched the incident from their homes across the street.

The man was taken to hospital for evaluation.