A spokesperson said the premises had since reopened and cordons were being stood down.

“A person has been taken into custody and further inquiries will be made.”

A shopper who was inside Woolworths when the emergency unfolded told the New Zealand Herald she had to leave her groceries on the conveyor belt when a loud announcement came over the mall intercom.

She said it was a very repetitive announcement that said, “You must evacuate the mall now.”

The shopper said hundreds were gathered outside the mall.As she left the mall, the shopper said she saw even more police cars in the underground parking area near the movie theatre end of the precinct.

“All I saw was police car after police car.”

Another shopper told said she was in that mall with her daughter when they were evacuated.

She said she saw an older man arrested outside the mall.

“We were evacuated for over half an hour. I’ve never seen so many rifles in my life.”

Everyone who had been standing outside the mall were now being let back inside.

A worker from inside the mall said they were evacuated for around 45 minutes.

He said the police and the mall security have kept them in the dark following the incident.

“Usually they inform us. We have had no news.”

Today’s evacuation comes nearly three weeks after a dramatic police manhunt which led to the evacuation of the West Auckland mall on May 17.

In that earlier incident the mall was locked down and moviegoers urgently ushered out of screenings at the theatre.

Those watching films were evacuated to the first-floor lobby while multiple police officers swept the theatre complex, including bathrooms.

At the time police said the mall incident was linked to an armed robbery in a nearby suburb.

A 25-year-old was charged with aggravated robbery and police were hunting for a second person.

LynnMall management Kiwi Property Group has been approached for comment.

This story was first published by The New Zealand Herald.