Mall horror as gunman who ¿threatened shoppers¿ is arrested by armed police in Brisbane after terrifying siege Crazed gunman points weapon at police in city centre shopping mall Officers shout at frightened shoppers to take cover in nearby stores Police bring siege to an end by firing 'bean bag' rounds at gunman Fears: A frightened woman sheds tears as she and other shoppers are evacuated from Queen Street Mall in Brisbane after a gunman pulled a weapon on the police Terrified shoppers were told to run for their lives as armed police confronted a crazed gunman in a busy shopping mall. Officers were forced to use 'bean bag' bullets to bring down the 'heavily tattooed' man and end the 90 minute-long siege - which brought much of the city centre to a standstill in Brisbane Australia. The confrontation is said to have begun when the man ripped of his shirt and pulled the weapon after being approached by plainclothes police. The man, who has not yet been identified, is believed to have said he wanted to see his children. He was later seen being carried into an ambulance after police ended the siege at the Queen Street Mall by opening fire with the special 'less lethal' bean bag rounds. The gunman is being treated in Royal Brisbane Hospital for minor injuries. A witness said that when the man was approached by plainclothes officers he had 'ripped off his shirt and pulled out a gun and pointed it at them.' The officers then took out their own guns and screamed at the man to get down on the ground, the Sydney Morning Herald reports. The man apparently ignored repeated requests to get down on the ground - with the police then shouting at scattering shoppers to hide in nearby stores. Frightened: The city centre was brought to a standstill as armed officers confronted the man. Some shoppers who saw the confrontation unfold had fled to nearby stores for shelter Action: Special Emergency Response Team police officers enter the mall in a bid to end the siege Firing: Two shots were heard within 90 minutes of the start of the confrontation - before the man was taken away in an ambulance The man is understood to have held the gun to his throat during the confrontation. Two shots were heard in the mall an hour and half after the start of the siege, which began at 11.30am local time. One witness said that the man had been urging the police to shoot him and that he wanted to see his children. Another witness said he saw the gunman running from a restaurant holding a pistol before armed police shot him, according to the Herald. Wounded: An ambulance transporting the alleged gunman leaves the scene. He is said to have 'non-threatening' injuries Claims: The gunman is alleged to have called on police to shoot him during the siege which brought the city centre to a standstill