Bondi Junction: Eastgate Shopping Centre evacuated after alarm raised amid reports of a suspicious item

Hundreds of Christmas shoppers have been left shaken after a major shopping centre in Bondi Junction has been evacuated.

Police swarmed the facility after an alert was raised with reports of a suspicious package left near a Coles store.

NSW Police confirmed to media outlets that an operation was underway at the Eastgate shopping centre on Spring Street with all shoppers and staff told to leave the retail hub as a “precaution”.

Pedestrians and motorists were asked to avoid the area with traffic diversions in place.

Shoppers were allowed back into the centre just before midday after NSW Police confirmed officers conducted thorough checks and determined the package was not suspicious.

The area has now been declared safe, and the shopping centre has resumed normal operations.