Motorists and pedestrians ordered to avoid Brisbane CBD site over police shooting

Gripping new footage of the fatal police shooting in the Brisbane CBD has been released exclusively to The Courier-Mail. It comes as police address concerns the stabbing attack was terrorism related. SEE THE VIDEO

A MAN has been shot and killed by police in the Brisbane CBD with witnesses saying he was armed with a knife and had wounded another man, who was running from the scene covered in blood.

The Courier-Mail understands the attack was random and unprovoked.

Police have told reporters that the 24-year-old man approached a couple who were visiting from overseas and stabbed a 26-year-old man.

That man has since been released from hospital.

The attacker then threw the knife into a bin and went into his car to get a second knife.

Police said the man came within three metres of police officers before he was shot, saying they were confronted with a life and death situation.

It is understood the man was armed with a knife and charged at police, who then returned fire, critically wounding him. The incident occurred outside the Westin Hotel about 10.20am.

The man police shot died at the scene. A 26-year-old man was taken to hospital with facial and back injuries as a result of the stabbing.

Early investigations by police indicate the attack, which was carried out by a man unknown to his victim, does not hold links to terrorism.

Detective Superintendent Tony Fleming said it’s believed the man, aged 24, acted alone.

“I don’t have any information that confirms or makes this an active counter terrorism investigation,” Det Sup Fleming said.

“For the sake of completeness and community safety, we will look at (if there) was someone else involved. But I want to stress that all the information to us at the moment (indicates this) person was acting alone, came into the city alone, did those actions alone.”

Emergency services work on the man shot dead in the Brisbane CBD. Picture: Supplied

The stabbing incident unfolded on the corner of Mary St and Edward St, as the victim and his female acquaintance were approached by the offender, who was known to police.

The pair told police the man’s behaviour was “strange and odd” before he pulled out a knife.

The pair ran, however the 26-year-old male victim was punched once in the face.

He turned to flee, before the attacker stabbed him in the back.

Police arrived on scene within a matter of minutes, where the knife-wielding man refused to drop the knife after several verbal commands from the police.

Police attend to the shot man.

The man died at the scene after being shot.

Det Sup Fleming said he believed police were faced with a life or death situation when the decision was made to lethally shoot the man.

“It’s my understanding that what police were confronted with today was a life endangering situation to them, and I’m very pleased that they are alive, but it’s tragic that a young man has died,” he said.

“It will be alleged the male person has confronted police armed with a knife, and police have discharged their firearms. They have attempted to provide assistance to that man, but he has subsequently died.”

As is standard practice in police shootings, the Ethical Standards Command, Tripple C and the coroner will now investigate.

Police have established at least two crime scenes around the vicinity of Mary and Edward Streets.

The Westin Hotel, which has been established as one of the crime scenes, is a hive of activity as forensic police work to determine the events that unfolded in the lead-up to the man’s death.

The aftermath of the fatal police shooting. Picture: Liam Kidston.

A witness, who owns a store on Mary Street and does not want to be named, said he saw a man armed with a knife storm up Mary Street before another man ran down Mary Street covered in blood.

The witness described the man covered in blood as having multiple wounds to his head and said he ran into a hotel on Felix Street seeking help.

Numerous crime scenes have been set up across the Brisbane CBD after the fatal police shooting. Picture: Liam Kidston.

He said he then saw the man armed with a knife run back towards the man, frantically searching for him before then discarding the knife in a bin and grabbing a second, bigger knife and running back up Mary Street in search of his victim.

The witness alerted police to his whereabouts and police approached him and he allegedly tried to attack them.

The witness said police yelled multiple times for the man to “drop the knife” before the man ran towards them.

The witness said police fired five or six lethal shots at the man, who collapsed in the street.

Caboolture man Adam Leishman heard a “rapid fire” of gunshots while he was on the street in Brisbane CBD. He immediately called triple-0.

“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. I immediately thought it was somebody that shouldn’t have a gun.”

Mr Leishman said the whole valet team of the Westin hotel saw the incident unfold and appear “visibly shaken”.

Police have closed Mary St in Brisbane CBD due to a police shooting. Photo: 10 News First

Queensland Ambulance Service paramedics were earlier treating two people.

A crime scene has been established however there is no longer a threat to the public.

Police are urging motorists to avoid Mary St and Edward St with Mary St closed between Edward and Albert streets.