Armed Man Shot By Police In Whanganui

An armed man has been shot by police in Whanganui.

A post on the police Twitter account says: "Offender injured after being shot by police when he presented a firearm in Whanganui."

A person has contacted the Herald to say a man was shot by police on Niblett St.

The person said police had been chasing the man for half an hour and he was pointing a pistol at officers. This has not been confirmed yet.

A woman who answered the phone at nearby Keith Street School said the school had no comment to make and referred all questions to police.

Residents near the corner of Keith and Plymouth Sts said they heard two clear gun shots about 9.20 this morning.

The three young women were talking to the Chronicle when a police officer walked over and said he wanted to speak to them, and told them not to speak to the media.

An older man living on Plymouth St said heard two clear gun shots, also around 9.20.

A section of Plymouth St is cordoned and what appears to be some clothing is lying on the road.

A man who lived on Keith St said part of the road, between London and Glasgow streets, was blocked off yesterday afternoon for about two hours.

"There must have been five to seven police cars there, two ambulances, one fire engine," said the man, who didn't want to be named.

"We first saw it round about 3.30 when a police car was parked across the top of London St to stop traffic."

Police didn't tell the man what was happening and officers wouldn't let anybody near the scene.

Read more at nzherald.co.nz