A man has been shot dead by police who say he approached them with a knife and an axe when they went to execute an arrest warrant in Sydney’s west.

Officers visited a home in Seven Hills about 11.20am on Tuesday, when police say a 45-year-old man approached them with a knife and an axe before “a physical confrontation ensued and the man was shot by police”.

NSW Acting Assistant Commissioner Julie Boon said four officers were in attendance and the shots were fired inside the home.

But she was unable to confirm how many officers discharged their weapon or how many times the man was shot.

“Officers let out a number of shots, unfortunately the man collapsed”, Ms Boon said. They conducted CPR until ambulance paramedics arrived, but the man could not be revived.

“I believe the man was the only person inside the premises at the time, that will come out as part of a critical incident investigation,” she said.

A crime scene has been established and inquiries are underway, with a number of residential streets closed.

The Law Enforcement Conduct Commission is independently monitoring a review by the NSW Police Professional Standards Command.

AAP

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