Thousand workers evacuated amid central London bomb threat after 'man wearing gas canister storms offices and takes hostages'

Armed police have evacuated at least 1,000 workers in central London after a suspected bomber stormed an office building and took hostages. The man, who identified himself as Michael Green, strapped gas canisters to his back before entering the office of an HGV firm on Tottenham Court Road, according to witnesses. He is understood to have taken four hostages inside Shropshire House, amid claims he had failed a HGV training course and wanted his money back. Officers, including explosives experts and police negotiators, sealed off the block as the man begun hurling objects including computers and filing cabinets from a fifth floor window and threatened to blow himself up. Bystanders, some of whom reported hearing shots being fired, have now been pushed back to Euston Road, which is about half a mile from the scene. Witnesses say snipers have also been seen on adjacent buildings.

Pictures from the siege at Shropshire House, Tottenham Court Road: Witnesses say hostages have been taken inside the building

The cordon on Tottenham Court Road, where more than 1,000 workers have been evacuated

A man looks out of the window from which debris including a filing cabinet were thrown. His identity is not known

Mr Cox, who works for PR firm Outside Organisation, said: 'There was a guy chucking stuff out of the window - there seemed to be computers and some furniture and then papers. 'The police came in to our reception and told us we had to evacuate the building immediately. 'We have been getting moved further and further back by the police. 'There are all sorts of rumours going around about what is happening. We think it is some sort of recruitment or training agency.'

Culled from Dailymail