High school thrown into lockdown as police negotiate with a man in an abandoned property near the campus

By CAITLIN POWELL - NEWS REPORTER Published: 08:24, 17 July 2026 | Updated: 08:26, 17 July 2026 A high school in Melbourne was forced into lockdown while police negotiated with a 44-year-old man inside a nearby property.  Officers negotiated with the man on Barkly Street in Footscray after he was reportedly seen with a weapon about 2.15pm inside an abandoned building.  As a precaution, Footscray High School's Barkly Street campus was locked down. Parents were informed of the lockdown in an email from school principal Jillian English, seen by The Age. 'This afternoon we were informed by Victoria Police of an incident occurring in a home in the vicinity of the Barkly campus of the school,' she said. 'The police advised to place the school into lockdown as a precaution. All students and staff are safe. 'Victoria Police have advised the incident is ongoing for now and as a result students cannot leave at the end of the school day at this stage.' Police said that, after negotiations failed, the man was subsequently tasered and arrested about 3.45pm. Footscray High School's Barkly Street campus was forced into lockdown on Friday afternoon It was a precaution while police negotiated with a 44-year-old man inside a nearby property The man was taken to hospital for assessment under police guard. Police allege that edged weapons and imitation firearms were found at the scene.