A man who stabbed a cleaner at a western Sydney train station just minutes before bursting through the doors of a nearby police station has been shot dead. 

The 32-year-old launched a random and frenzied attack on the Auburn Railway Station cleaner just minutes after midnight on Tuesday. 

He stabbed the 28-year-old worker in the arm before slashing him across the hip.

Assistant Commissioner Stuart Smith says the pair did not know each other and the unprovoked attack happened without warning.

“The cleaner was just going about his duties,” he told reporters.

“He just happened to be the first person who was inside the turnstiles and was set upon without motive.”

Four minutes later, the attacker, still brandishing a knife, launched through the doors of Auburn Police Station, charging toward two officers who shot him twice in the chest with a pistol and again with a taser.

He was rushed to Westmead Hospital where he was pronounced dead an hour later.

Mr Smith says the situation was traumatic for all involved and officers were forced to take action within seconds to avoid being attacked.

“The CCTV footage is highly concerning,” he said.

“It would have been a stressful situation for the officers. They had no alternative but to respond.

“He launches through the glass doors at the officers and they have little time to react.” 

Police are investigating the incident with counterterrorism staff but have assured the public the man was acting alone.

The attacker, who had come to Australia from India in 2019 on a student visa, had previously interacted with police during the pandemic when law enforcement knocked on doors to ensure western Sydney residents were complying with lockdown restrictions. 

None of the interactions were related to criminal or mental health interventions. 

The train station cleaner remains in a stable condition in hospital. 

Police are yet to establish a motive for the attack.