A THREE-HOUR siege at a Sydney police station ended last night when a 39-year-old policeman was arrested after armed officers entered the building.

Dozens of NSW police officers armed with riot gear and automatic weapons were called to Earlwood police station, in Sydney’s inner west, about 2.15pm yesterday.

The man, who had no hostages, gave himself up at 5.05pm after speaking with negotiators. The officer is believed to have been armed, although police have refused to confirm this.

Roads around the police station were evacuated during the siege and a nearby school was closed as a precaution.

A spokeswoman for NSW police described the situation as “serious and sensitive”.

“The man was at the rear of the station in a courtyard and made a call to an officer which resulted in police being called,” thespokeswoman said.

Maria Smalios, who lives in Earlwood, said she was terrified by the incident, which attracted hundreds of onlookers.

“I heard that there were two men and they went into the police station,” Ms Smalios said.

“The stories keep changing all the time. No one knows what is happening. It’s too much for this little area.”

NSW police superintendent Frank Mennilli said the officer would spend the night in police custody, but he would not say whether charges would be laid.

The officer, who is likely to undergo a psychiatric assessment, was not seen leaving the station.

Superintendent Mennilli would not reveal what had caused the siege but said the officer’s family was not involved in thenegotiations.

The incident follows the death of 29-year-old constable Greg Norman Lundberg, who took his life at Menai Police Station in southern Sydney on January 7 this year.

Lundberg was found with a single gunshot wound to the head in the toilet of the small police station.