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'Rapid fire': Armed man is shot dead by police after stabbing attack in Brisbane

WARNING - GRAPHIC IMAGES: Police have shot dead a man who charged at officers with a knife after stabbing another person in Brisbane's central business district.

The incident occurred near the Westin Hotel on Mary St around 10am with witnesses reporting a “rapid fire” of gunshots.

Caboolture man Adam Leishman told The Courier Mail he was standing on the same street and immediately called triple-0 for help.

“I was only about 15m from where the shooting was,” he said.

“I heard yelling and then I heard rapid fire of 7-10 shots and I saw people running towards me, I just turned and ran,” he added.

Police officers have shot dead an armed man who had stabbed another person near a hotel in Brisbane CBD. Source: AAP
Police officers have shot dead an armed man who had stabbed another person near a hotel in Brisbane CBD. Source: AAP

Police spoke at a media conference on Sunday afternoon and said they believe the man confronted two terrified tourists before pulling a knife and chasing after the man and woman.

The woman was able to flee but the man, 26, was allegedly struck in the face before being stabbed in the back.

He was transported to the Royal Brisbane Hospital with facial and back injuries and later released.

An unnamed witness told the publication he saw the attacker armed with a knife before seeing a second man run down Mary St covered in blood with several wounds to his head.

Source: Twitter/@Errol_WyldLynx/@DickShearman
Locals have posted images of the shooting unfolding outside of the Westin Hotel (left) while Brisbane CBD remains in lockdown (right). : Twitter/@Errol_WyldLynx/@DickShearman

He said the attacker ran after his victim, ditching the knife and grabbing a second larger knife as he tried to find him.

Police then shot the alleged stabber after he lunged at two officers, according to Detective Superintendent Tony Fleming.

"We don't know the motivation for this attack today," he said.

"It is my understanding that what the police were confronted with today was a life-endangering situation," Mr Fleming added.

Police believe the attacker had two knifes on him during the incident, and that he acted alone.

The forensic scene where police shot and killed a man outside the Westin Hotel on Mary Street in central Brisbane, Sunday, February 23, 2020.(AAP Image/Glenn Hunt) NO ARCHIVING
The forensic scene where police shot and killed a man outside the Westin Hotel on Mary Street in central Brisbane. Source: AAP

A guest of the Westin Hotel told AAP she heard several gunshots, but thought they were fireworks.

"I came outside and I saw someone lying on the ground and (police) were performing CPR," she said.

One guest of the hotel reported on twitter that he was in his room at the time and was told “not to leave the room”.

Mr Fleming said the attacker was known to police and said a wide ranging investigation would take place, including looking at potential terrorism related motives.

"We do have security and CT (counter terrorism) people with us which will explore that, but I can tell you that at the moment I don't have any information that confirms or makes this an active CT investigation," he said.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a report online.

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