A man has been shot by police after he allegedly ran towards officers with a meat cleaver in the NSW city of Newcastle.
Emergency services were called to a unit block on Hanbury Street in Mayfield at 4pm for a welfare check.
Police claim a Taser was deployed as the man ran towards them but this was unsuccessful.
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The resident, in his 40s, was then shot by police, who immediately assisted the man as paramedics travelled to the scene.
The man was taken to John Hunter Hospital in a serious condition.
There will be an investigation into the incident and this will be subject to an independent review.
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