Axe-wielding man shot by police in Hull city centre dies in hospital

Unnamed man was shot by Humberside Police at 9:37am

Humberside Police cordoned off the car park where the shooting is believed to have taken place

(PA)

A man reportedly seen carrying a "double-edged" axe in Hull has died in hospital after being shot by police.

Humberside Police confirmed they shot a 31-year-old man at 9:37am on Tuesday after he was spotted carrying the weapon near a Post Office in the city centre.

The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) confirmed the unnamed man died in hospital.

IPCC associate commissioner, Tom Milson, said: "Our thoughts are with the man's friends and family, and all those affected at this very difficult time."

One witness, Andre Foster, said he was in a nearby building and saw the man after he had been shot by police.

He said: "We heard two big, loud bangs, gun sounds, we looked out the window, we saw this fella on the floor, blood was gushing out of him.

"There were around six police around him, trying to stop him bleeding.

"I never saw an axe or anything, never saw a weapon."

Mr Foster added: "It looked like he'd been Tasered. He had a big cut at the bottom, near his liver, and one at the top I think, and blood was just gushing out of him."

He continued: "He was moving around, wriggling his body around like he was in agony."

Another witness, who only gave her name as Rachel, said: "We heard two loud bangs and a man screaming, which made us all get up and see what was going on, and there was a man laid on the floor with quite a lot of blood loss and obviously it was all running down the path."

She added that the man had what she believed to be four Taser marks - or "prongs" - in his back.

Other witnesses later reported a huge police presence in the Charles Street area of the city with several streets cordoned off and firefighters at the scene.

Large screens were put up around a car park in Francis Street and local residents were asked to stay indoors.

An investigation into the shooting is now underway.

Additional reporting by PA