A man has been charged with attempted murder after allegedly running at police with a knife near a busy Sydney shopping centre.

Two officers responded to reports a young man was acting erratically, armed with a large carving knife at a busy market square at Westfield Hornsby in Sydney’s north last week.

Jerry Sourian, 23, was visited by investigators at North Shore hospital on Wednesday and charged with attempted murder, being armed with intent to commit a serious indictable offence and affray.

He is being treated at the hospital for multiple gunshots sustained during the incident.

He was refused bail and will appear in Hornsby local court next Wednesday.

Three women aged between 60 and 80 also sustained gunshot wounds after police officers fired at the man.