A police operation is under way at the Sydney Opera House, with Fairfax reporting the precinct has been cordoned off and that a second operation was conducted in Manly.

Police cleared the forecourt of the Opera House at around 2pm today, with police setting up metal barriers. All tours of the Sydney landmark have been cancelled.

The bars below the venue have reportedly been closed and ferries around the area have been affected – the 1.20pm ferry from Manly to Circular Quay was cancelled and the 2.40pm and 3pm ferries from Circular Quay to Manly were delayed.

Details at the moment are scant, though NSW Police have confirmed an operation is under way. Though initial reports claimed the Opera House had been evacuated, staff inside the venue have disputed this.

An Opera House staffer reportedly told Music Feeds that many employees are still inside the building and have not been instructed to evacuate.

The AAP reports that all tours of the venue have been cancelled for the day and BuzzFeed‘s Alex Lee claims all shows scheduled for tonight have been cancelled.

Speaking to the Daily Mail, NSW Police said the operation is a “precautionary search”. More details on this story as it unfolds.

UPDATE 14/01/16: Broadsheet is reporting that the operation at the Sydney Opera House has ended.

“Following information on social media, police conducted an operation in the vicinity of the Opera House and Manly as a precautionary measure,” NSW Police stated.

No further details about why the operation was undertaken were shared.

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