The two men shot and seriously wounded by police at the Victoria-NSW border were under the watch of counter-terror cops when they rammed a local squad car and lunged at officers with a knife and a tomahawk.

Acting Assistant Commissioner Clive Rust said counter-terror detectives had asked local police to intercept the men, believed to be brothers aged 19 and 30, but emphasised it was "standard procedure" and there was no ongoing terror investigation or threat to the public.

The scene in Barnawartha North. Credit:Mark Jesser/Border Mail

Police from Wodonga found the pair about 3pm at a service station at Barnawartha North, about 20 kilometres west of Albury-Wodonga, before the men allegedly rammed their car and fled.

Mr Rust said one of the men then charged police with a weapon and was shot.