Specialist police personnel are at the scene in Byker Photo: Newcastle Chronicle

LONDON: A man armed with a knife has held hostage employees of a job centre in Newcastle in northeast England, police said Friday.

"Officers have attended and found a man armed with a knife had entered the premises," Northumbria police said in a statement. "It is believed that several members of staff are being held there."

The statement added that it is believed the man responsible is known to the job centre and this is being treated as an isolated incident at this stage.

"Specialist negotiators are at the scene," the statement read, adding there were no reports of injuries.

Police said student accommodation nearby had been evacuated and a metro station closed as a precaution.

According to Daily Mail, the Type and Wear Metro has been suspended between Byker, the affected area, and St James while roads have been closed off around the building and the public had been told to avoid the area. Moreover, it stated five members of staff have are believed to have been released with one man being kept inside.

Later, reports said all the hostages have been safely released and the attacker in custody. 

With additional input from Daily Mail.