Dutch police have shot a man who was shouting ‘Allahu Akbar’ as he tried to attack them with an axe.

The 26-year-old man was heard screaming the Arabic for 'God is greatest' while waving the weapon and fatally wounded a police dog.

According to Netherlands news site NU, police entered his apartment after reports of a disturbance on Wednesday afternoon.

This police dog was killed in the attack as the man fatally stabbed it. Police initially thought the dog was okay but it later died

Emergency workers were seen carrying the 26-year-old out of the apartment as they rushed him to the operating theatre

Armed police were pictured in the streets after they shot a man who shouted Allahu Akbar while wielding an axe

Officers are understood to have tried to taser the man unsuccessfully. He was taken to hospital in a critical condition

During the fighting, officers reportedly tried unsuccessfully to taser the man, who stabbed a police dog.

The man has been taken to hospital in critical condition but NOS reports he is now stable.

Pictures from the scene showed his covered body being loaded onto a stretcher as officers sent him to hospital.

The man reportedly stabbed a dog in the attack, which later died as a result of its injuries

Mayor Cor Lamers told NU the man was of a Syrian background and 'was known to different aid agencies'.

The police dog was pictured shortly after the accident getting into a force vehicle and officers said on social media it was fine.

But shortly after they announced it had died as a result of its injuries.