A significant police operation took place in Dornbirn city center on Wednesday evening after a passer-by reported seeing an armed person in a shopping center.

The alarm was raised shortly after 7 PM, prompting the Cobra special forces to surround the city market and search the building.

At the time, only a few visitors remained as most stores were closing.

After an extensive search, police found no armed individual and determined there was no threat.

The operation concluded around 8 PM, allowing people to re-enter the shopping center.

Authorities suspect the passer-by may have misinterpreted a test fire alarm as a weapon threat.