Armed police have swarmed a busy central Auckland street, with a witness reporting seeing officers pointing firearms at a vehicle.

A bystander described a sudden mass arrest by police on Karangahape Rd this afternoon.

“Six or seven police cars must have been chasing a vehicle.

“They’ve got their guns out, the car was stopped.

Armed police descend on Karangahape Rd on Thursday afternoon as four people in a vehicle were taken into custody. Photo / NZME

“The police were pointing the guns at the car.”

A woman who appeared to be the driver was apprehended, alongside three other passengers, none of whom resisted police.

“I think it might have been the end of a police chase from what I can tell.”

The Herald has approached police for comment.

More to come.