Authorities in Australia say they have arrested a man armed with a knife trying to lob a burning package toward the Prime Minister's Sydney residence.

Prime Minister John Howard is on vacation and was not there when the incident took place. Police has refused to call the incident as terror attack.

Officials say the attacker has suffered burns. The 27-year-old man has been admitted to a nearby hospital with police keeping a close watch on him.

No one was injured in the incident, but police declined to elaborate whether the supsect is being charged with any offense.

A statement says, "The man then allegedly threatened officers from the Australian Protective Services with a knife. They were able to disarm the man and hold him until North Sydney police arrived."

Police confirm the package did not make it onto the Prime Minister's property.