Brisbane standoff a cry for help: friend
An armed man at the centre of a 10-hour standoff at a Brisbane ferry hub is a New Zealander who fought in Vietnam and is probably making a cry for help, a friend and fellow "yachtie" says.
A 54-year-old man threatening self-harm has moored his boat at the normally busy Eagle Street pier.
The stand-off has paralysed the nearby riverside area and is set to disrupt afternoon peak-hour ferry services. A 100-metre exclusion zone has been set up, and police and a bomb detection robot are at the scene.
A fellow "yachtie" told AAP the man was originally from New Zealand had lived on his boat in Brisbane for two years and was close to the nomadic yachting community.
Other yachties are concerned for the welfare of the man, who drama, which began with a call to police at 5am (AEST) on Monday.
"I think this is a cry for help," his friend of a few years said.
"None of this was expected, none of us thought this would have happened.
"He's had some health issues and some family issues," the friend said.
"He's a nice guy, and ex-Vietnam vet, a super guy," he said.
"This is completely out of character for him."
The man has been seen holding a jerry can and a 30cm-long bayonet.
Earlier in the day, a police officer told reporters at the scene that the man had requested a bacon and egg McMuffin.
But a police media spokesman denied the man had made the request.
The spokesman said the standoff had stemmed from family-related issue.
The man was seen playing a guitar onboard the boat after police negotiators pulled back about 10.30am.
His friend described him as a very good guitar player.
Police Inspector Shane Dall'Osto earlier told reporters officers hoped for a peaceful resolution.
Insp Dall'Osto refused to respond to questions about what the man's threats of self harm involved, including whether he had threatened to set a fire with the jerry can.
He said the man was alone on the boat.
The riverside walkway, Eagle Street pier, riverside ferry terminals, along with the Eagle Street city area and the Brisbane River between Holman and Thornton streets, are all closed.
