<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>A major </span><a href="http://9news.com.au/police" rel="" target="" title="police"><span>police</span></a><span> operation is under way in the </span><a href="http://9news.com.au/new-south-wales" rel="" target="" title="NSW"><span>NSW</span></a><span> Hunter region.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Tactical police swarmed the main street of Cessnock, about 40 kilometres west of Newcastle, this afternoon.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Witnesses first spotted multiple police Bearcat vehicles around an apartment complex near Cooper Street and North Avenue about 1pm.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/donald-trump-pope-leo-xiv-war-weak-and-terrible-trumps-remarkable-criticism-of-pope-marks-stark-turnaround/e93825bf-07bb-4a89-90d9-3f5344cab937"><strong><span>Pope hits back at Trump's extraordinary attack</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Streets were shut off as a perimeter was set up. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Heavily armed officers were seen pointing their firearms towards the building before several entered and headed up to the top floor.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>NSW Police released a short statement confirming an operation was under way.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/cessnock-major-police-operation-unfolds-in-nsw-hunter-region/4b247ce1-1703-4fd7-b24f-cafeedaee820" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"There is no threat to the public," police said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Further information will be released at an operationally appropriate time."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><em><strong><span>NEVER MISS A STORY: </span></strong></em><em><span>Get your breaking news and exclusive stories first by following us across all platforms.</span></em></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><ul><li><em><strong><span>Download the 9NEWS App here via </span></strong></em><a href="https://apps.apple.com/au/app/9news/id1010533727" rel="" target="" title=""><em><strong><span>Apple</span></strong></em></a><em><strong><span> and </span></strong></em><a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nineNewsAlerts.nine.com&amp;hl=en_AU&amp;pli=1" rel="" target="" title=""><em><strong><span>Google Play</span></strong></em></a><em></em></li><li><em><strong><span>Make 9News your preferred source on Google by </span></strong></em><a href="https://9.nine.com.au/8x987w" rel="" target="" title=""><em><strong><span>ticking this box here</span></strong></em></a><em></em></li><li><em><strong><span>Sign up to </span></strong></em><a href="https://login.nine.com.au/edm?client_id=nineatnine" rel="" target="" title=""><em><strong><span>our breaking newsletter here</span></strong></em></a><em></em></li></ul></div></div>