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(Image: KEVIN TAKUMI)

A man armed with a huge blade was shot dead after he began to slash at a resident in Canoga Park on Sunday.

Officers were alerted to the attack in the early hours of Christmas Eve and swooped on the neighbourhood minutes later.

Within seconds of their arrival cops gunned down the attacker.

(Image: GOOGLE MAPS)

The suspect and one other person were then taken away in an ambulance.

Officers later confirmed the man had died at the scene.

The victim is understood to have suffered minor injuries.

Bill Melugin said: "LAPD confirms they did shoot the suspect who was armed with a machete according to the radio calls we were listening to.

"Suspect apparently attacked someone inside home, that’s when they got the call."

One witness said he heard at least five gunshots before he saw police cars fly down the street and turn a corner.

Initial reports said at least nine people were taken to hospitals with injuries.

The attacks comes after FBI agents earlier this week arrested a former marine over alleged plans to launch a terror attack on Christmas Day.

Federal agents arrested Everitt Aaron Jameson, a 26-year-old Islam convert, in San Francisco, California.

It is claimed Mr Jameson said “Christmas was the perfect day” for a terror attack in San Francisco and "did not need an escape plan because he was ready to die”.