Trump Tower surrounded by cops after 'woman armed with rifle enters building'
Emergency crews surrounded the Trump Tower after reports of an active shooter earlier today.
Unconfirmed reports of a woman potentially armed with an assault rifle sparked a massive police and SWAT presence, and people were urged to stay away.
Chicago Police initially only confirmed there was a "call of service" at the Trump International Hotel and Tower, which is located in the city's central Loop near the Chicago River.
It was reported that the armed woman was involved in a domestic-related incident and that she entered the building.
Unconfirmed social media reports also claimed that she had barricaded herself inside the building, allegedly holding other people hostage with her rifle, though this hasn't been officially confirmed by police.
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Massive police presence around the Trump Tower (@BethHoller/Twitter)At 1.30pm local time, Chicago Police said SWAT officers were on-scene and confirmed the incident is domestic-related.
"At this time, we believe this is an isolated incident and there is no threat to the public," they added at the time.
At least one police helicopter was also at the scene and the road outside had been closed in both directions while police surrounded the scene and investigated.
The large police presence outside the condo-hotel quickly drew attention from workers and tourists in the busy area.
Footage from the scene showed multiple police vehicles and officers swamping the area near and around the entrance of the building.
At about 11.35am local time (5.35pm BST), the woman was seen brandishing a rifle and entering the Trump Tower, two law enforcement sources told the Chicago Sun.
Locals and bystanders at the time reported on social media that the building and the surrounding area had been put on lockdown.
Police are clearing the area and asking people to stay away (@BethHoller/Twitter)Others reported that the SWAT team have surrounded the building.
ABC reported Maher Kawash wrote on Twitter: "Massive police/ SWAT presence at the Trump Tower in Chicago as Wabash Ave is shut down.
"Chicago Police could only confirm there was a “call of service” & we are awaiting more details. Police clearing people out from the area."
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The reporter later added that this was an isolated incident and that there was no threat to the public.
An armed woman was reported to have tried to enter the skyscraper (@BethHoller/Twitter)A tweet by Chicago Police read: "SWAT officers are on-scene in the 400 block of N. Wabash for a domestic-related incident.
"At this time, we believe this is an isolated incident and there is no threat to the public.
"Media staging is at Grand/Wabash. Updates will be provided when available."
Police were reportedly called to an apartment on the 27th floor of the skyscraper.
It was also reported that a woman went there saying she was "tired of being abused by her husband".
An unconfirmed report at 2.19pm local time claimed that the woman had been arrested.
A social media user who claimed to have been listening to scanner traffic made the claim on Twitter.
Eric Tendian wrote: "The armed female in Trump Tower which prompted this SWAT incident is now IN CUSTODY, per scanner traffic."
As the operation was ongoing, a resident at the Trump Tower described how he witnessed the incident.
Steve told WBBM: “I was just doing some housework and some cooking and I decided to take some air,” he told the radio station.
“I came down to the lobby and I was quickly escorted away from the lobby, out of the building and was told not to come back until it was clear.”
“I asked several times what was going on and they wouldn’t acknowledge.”
Shortly after 3pm local time, Chicago Police said that the incident had concluded.
No injuries have been reported, however, one individual has been taken to an area hospital for evaluation, they added.
Further details on the incident have not been released.
This incident comes as Donald Trump is on the epicentre of media interest, a day after he was arraigned in New York for falsifying business documents related to hush payments to cover his extramarital affairs.
Donald Trump arrived at the Trump Tower in Manhattan, NY on Monday, spent the night there and was then taken to the courthouse in a motorcade on Tuesday.
He pleaded not guilty to 34 counts as he had repeatedly declared previously, and returned to his Mar-a-Lago residence in Palm Beach, Florida.
There, he delivered a speech presenting himself as the victim of "political persecution", aiming to galvanise his supporters ahead of his campaign for the Republican nomination and 2024 presidential elections.
The Chicago incident took place in the skyscraper owned by the Trump Organisation, however, there is no indication that it is in any way related to Trump or his recent arraignment.
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