Footage has emerged of the shocking moment police officers shot dead a crazed knifeman after he ‘randomly’ stabbed a tourist in Brisbane’s CBD.
The 25-year-old suspect was gunned down on Mary Street, outside the Westin Hotel, on Sunday as he charged towards police while wielding a machete-sized knife.
Video of the scene shows a group of officers tending to the bloodied man as he lies motionless on the road after they opened fire.
Horrified witnesses recalled hearing around seven gunshots ring out as he was shot down. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Detective Superintendent Tony Fleming said officers were forced to take action after being confronted with a ‘life and death situation’, The Australian reported.
They revealed the man was known to police but did not specify how.
It is believed the incident was random and unprovoked.
Video of the scene shows a group of officers tending to the bloodied man as he lies motionless on the road after they opened fire
The dead man, 25, lies on the ground after being critically wounded by police at 10.20am
Horrified witnesses recalled hearing around seven gunshots ring out as the knifeman was killed. Pictured: The knifeman after he was shot by police
Moments before being shot dead, the knifeman approached a couple visiting from overseas around 10am, stabbing a 26-year-old man, who sustained back and facial injuries.
The victim was taken to hospital with a broken nose and a small stab wound in his back which was treated with a ‘single stitch’ before he was released.
One witness told the Courier-Mail he saw the attacker run up Mary Street before another man ran down covered in blood with head wounds.
The knifeman put his weapon in a bin then grabbed a larger knife from his car before running after his victim, the witness said.
The witness, who owns a nearby store, said police arrived and yelled at the man several times to drop the knife.
A police spokesman told reporters how the attack unfolded.
The man, armed with a knife, seriously injured one person before he was killed at around 10.20am. Pictured: The scene
One witness said he saw the attacker run up Mary Street before another man ran down covered in blood with head wounds. Pictured: The scene
‘It my understanding is the couple had been in the city centre and they were like ordinary folk walking down the street,’ the spokesman said.
‘This other man – who has now died – he was walking towards them. That’s where he stopped. They’ve stopped. They thought it was bit odd and the interaction continued from there.
‘He’s pulled something out of a bag which turns out to be a knife.’
The couple then ran away and the knifeman went after the man.
‘A short distance later the male stopped because he thought the person chasing him had stopped,’ the police spokesman said.
‘At that time he was struck in the face. It’s turned out that he’s now got a broken nose and an injured lip.’
This matter is under investigation by Ethical Standards Command on behalf of the State Coroner. Pictured: The scene
An armed man has been shot dead by police outside the Westin Hotel in Brisbane ‘s CBD. Pictured: The scene
The tourist then managed to get away before police arrived.
The spokesman said the couple were left ‘shaken’.
‘We don’t know the motivation for this attack today but obviously we treat it very seriously,’ the spokesman said.
We don’t know the motivation for this attack today
Mary Street was closed between Edward and Albert streets and residents were urged to avoid the area.
One witness wrote on Twitter: ‘Never seen this many police cars and ambulances appear in minutes.’
Another added: ‘That was crazy. Police and ambo presence was so quick.’
One witness, Adam Leishman, told the Courier-Mail: ‘I was only about 15 metres from where the shooting was.
‘I heard yelling and then I heard rapid fire of seven to 10 shots and I saw people running towards me.’
The incident is under investigation by Ethical Standards Command on behalf of the State Coroner.
That investigation is subject to oversight by the Crime and Corruption Commission.
A crime scene was set up and police say there is no ongoing danger. Pictured: The scene