False alarm puts US navy base in lockdown

A US naval base in western Japan has been given the all clear after reports of gunshots resulted in it being put into lockdown.

A temporary lockdown on a US Navy base in southern Japan has been lifted after reports of shots being fired and a shooter on the loose turned out to be a false alarm.

"All clear at Fleet Activities Sasebo. No evidence of a shooter. No casualties. Base has returned to normal operations," US Naval Forces Japan tweeted.

The US Navy base is located in the city of Sasebo on the southern Japanese island of Kyushu.