Man arrested after climbing Sydney Harbour Bridge

Traffic in the heart of Sydney was brought to a standstill on Friday morning, after a man got out of a taxi and started to climb the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

Footage from a news helicopter showed the man sitting on one of the bridge's arches with his arms crossed.

A spokesperson for New South Wales (NSW) police said the man climbed down the bridge at 10:50 a.m. local time and was arrested.

"A police operation was launched, with the assistance of Police Rescue, Police Negotiators, Traffic and Highway Patrol Command, and the Motorcycle Response Team," the spokesperson said.

"Officers from Harbourside Local Area Command attended and located a man, who had climbed a section of the bridge, and refused to come down."

He noted the man was checked by NSW ambulance paramedics at the scene and taken to hospital.

"A number of lanes of the Sydney Harbour Bridge were closed during the operation, but have since reopened."

(APD)