Police kill knife-wielding man in Sydney

Officers faced threats from an armed individual; taser unsuccessfully before resorting to lethal force

SYDNEY:

A 34-year-old man armed with a knife was shot dead by police on Saturday night in Middleton Grange, a southwestern suburb of Sydney, New South Wales (NSW).

The NSW Police Force reported on Sunday that emergency services were called to the scene around 11 pm following reports of a man allegedly armed with a knife. Upon arrival, police officers were confronted and threatened by the man.

A 33-year-old male officer was struck with the knife but was protected by his operational vest, preventing any physical injury.

According to the police, a taser was deployed but proved ineffective, leading to the man being shot by police. Officers administered CPR until NSW Ambulance paramedics arrived and took over, but the man could not be revived.

This incident is part of a troubling trend of knife attacks in Australia. In a similar case in 2019, a man armed with a knife was shot dead by police in Melbourne after stabbing a passerby and attacking officers.

In another high-profile incident in Sydney's central business district in 2018, a man was apprehended after fatally stabbing one woman and injuring another, which led to heightened concerns about public safety.

The NSW Police have reiterated their commitment to ensuring public safety and handling armed threats with appropriate force. Investigations into the Middleton Grange incident are ongoing to determine the exact circumstances and whether all protocols were followed.

The rise in knife-related incidents has prompted calls for stricter regulations and more effective measures to prevent such occurrences and protect the community.