Police outside a building in Rochedale following reports of a gunman on the loose. Picture: Brittany Vonow

But the man, described as being in his early 20s and fit, did not realise the full impact his run had made on the locals. Two schools and a daycare centre were locked down at Rochedale in Brisbane’s south.

Police received several calls from locals who saw the man running along Priestdale St just after 11am, with Inspector Daniel Bragg saying the man had covered a large amount of ground.

“I think he was running the whole time police were searching for him because he was out, travelling at quite a pace,” he said.

“I get the impression he wasn’t fully aware of the havoc that was wreaked as a consequence of his actions.”

He said the man was carrying a piece of metal fashioned to look like a gun.

“When the suspect was approached by police he was very compliant,” he said.

“He indicated that he was training and it was all part of a training exercise.”

Police take a man in custody, with the “fake” machine gun lying on the ground. Picture: Channel 7Source:Channel 7

Insp Bragg confirmed police were called to the incident just after 11am after reports of a man wearing military uniform, armed with a gun, walking around the Rochedale area.

Police tracked the man to a nearby address on Priestdale Rd about an hour later.

Inspector Bragg has said the man in custody was dressed in a military uniform and claimed to be “training”.

“The man had a home-made weapon made of steel that looked like a short machine gun,” Inspector Bragg said.

Inspector Bragg said the man was cooperative when taken into police custody and was “remorseful”

It is understood the man could face charges of being armed in public to cause fear.

Two schools and the Rochedale Early learning Centre were put into lockdown as police officers dressed in bullet-proof vests, some with helmets, tried to locate the man.

At one stage more than 15 police vehicles were recorded on the scene, with police hiding behind cars, as Redeemer Lutheran and Rochedale State High School were locked down.

The man, in his 20s, ran “quite a distance”.

Insp Daniel Bragg said the man “was not fully aware” of the consequences of the sighting of him.

Insp Bragg said several people had reported the incident.

The makeshift weapon was made of steel or iron, made of piping, to replicate the weapon.

The man is taken into police custody.Source:News Corp Australia

The man, who appeared quite fit, was running the entire time police were searching for him.

EARLIER: A man wearing a military uniform, armed with a gun or a toy gun, is believed to be walking around the Rochedale area.

Police take a man in custody, with the “fake” machine gun lying on the ground. Picture: Channel 7Source:Channel 9

Staff at the nextdoor petrol station were told of the incident and locked themselves in

The Courier-Mail understands Redeemer Lutheran and Rochedale State High School have been locked down.

More than 15 police cars have gathered in the area and officers dressed in bullet-proof vests have surrounded an Rochedale Early Learning Centre, hiding behind cars.

Picture: Channel 9Source:Channel 9

A number of the officers are in full protective gear, including helmets.

Police in bullet-proof vests are involved in the search, on the corner of Underwood and Rochedale roads.

The man was last seen around the scout hall on Priestdale Rd.

Rochedale Rd is currently closed with police stationed at the corner of Underwood Rd.

Police have confirmed they received reports of a man armed with a gun or toy gun at the scene.

The reports have not yet been verified.

Police outside a building in Rochedale following reports of a gunman on the loose. Picture: Brittany VonowSource:The Courier-Mail

TransLink reports that the following changes have been made to public transport in the area:

Route 578 and 576 bus will be diverted in both directions due to an police incident at Rochedale. The following stops will be missed:

Rochedale Primary

Rochedale Road near Priestdale Road