A man is dead and a police officer is in a critical condition after a stabbing incident in Sydney's southeast.
The 33-year-old man was apprehended by investigating police at the Maroubra Junction Hotel on Maroubra Road, where a confrontation broke out.
He stabbed one of the officers, a 45-year-old detective sergeant, in the chest and abdomen. Two other officers then shot the man who died at the scene.
NSW Ambulance paramedics were called following the incident.
Police could not confirm how many shots were fired but said it would form part of the investigation.
“This was a relatively routine situation but escalated into a serious outcome,” NSW Police Assistant Commissioner Mark Walton told a press conference in Sydney.
The sergeant was brought to St Vincent’s Hospital where he underwent surgery. Police say he is in a critical condition.
“He’s very well-regarded by his peers. There will be a lot of people very concerned about his condition,” the police spokesman said.
“As you’d expect [the other officers are] traumatised but here to assist us with our enquiries.”
Minister for Police Troy Grant said his "thoughts and prayers" were with the sergeant's family and colleagues.
A witness Richard Block told Seven News: "I was in the beer garden, having a few beers for Australia Day, and next thing you know I hear all these gunshots. We were all told to leave the pub.
"I just saw a lot of people running around, police everywhere. I think they were taking out an injured person on a stretcher, and we were all told to go home.
"They were pushing us out the door, telling us to get out, it was a crime scene. I reckon I heard three gunshots.
"It all happened so quickly. I've never seen anything like it before in my life."
Another witness Lara Alexander, who works nearby, said: "I was vacuuming inside where I work and then when I was out the back I heard about four or five gunshots pretty close by.
"So I went outside to see what was happening and it was really chaotic – a whole bunch of police cars, lots of ambulances, just so many police rushing inside the pub. Stuff like that doesn't happen around here very often."
Police are seen at the Junction Hotel in Maroubra, Sydney, January 26, 2018. Source: AAP
The westbound lanes of nearby Maroubra Road have been closed because of a NSW Police operation, Live Sydney Traffic tweeted on Friday.
Police are appealing for witnesses to come forward and anyone with information is asked to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
They confirmed the Homicide Squad will launch a critical incident investigation to examine all circumstances around the incident.
The investigation will be subject to independent review. All findings will be disclosed to the coroner to establish the man's cause of death.
- with AAP
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