Armed police were dispatched to York city centre today after a man was seen with a gun.
Both marked and unmarked police vehicles were seen in the vicinity of York Station late this afternoon
The firearms unit, along with officers from the response team, were reacting to a report of someone “believed to be in possession of a weapon”.
A male suspect was arrested.
After he was detained, officers found an item discarded in a hedge nearby.
A North Yorkshire Police spokesperson said: “Thankfully, the item was determined to be a BB gun.
“While this particular situation was resolved without injury, we want to emphasise that the potential for harm with such items is still very high.
“BB guns and similar weapons are dangerous. Although they may look like toys, they can cause serious harm, especially if used recklessly or in public spaces where they may cause alarm and distress.
“It’s important to remember that even though these items are not real firearms, they can trigger a serious response from the police, as they can easily be mistaken for real weapons.”
The incident comes a month after armed police detained a man outside York Minster, after he was spotted with what was believed to be a shotgun inside a bag in Low Petergate.
That turned out to be a long-barrelled air weapon.