SHOCKING footage captures the moment armed police shot a man dead after he pulled out two '10 inch knives' near London's Trafalgar Square last night.

Officers on patrol spotted him "acting suspiciously" and tasered him when he pulled out the weapons.

The knifeman can be seen before being shot by police

4 Police shot a man dead in Great Scotland Yard in the early hours of this morning Credit: Twitter / London 999

4 Video showed police cars in Northumberland Avenue near Trafalgar Square Credit: Twitter / London 999

Officers gathered at the scene this morning for a forensic check Credit: Getty Images - Getty

Two armed response vehicles from City of London Police swooped before a cop fired his gun, fatally wounding the knifeman, who was described as black and aged between 30 and 40.

The man was pronounced dead soon after the shots were fired.

But the incident was sparked around 11.25pm when Ministry of Defence (MOD) cops also discharged tasers as the knifeman failed to stop near the Royal Festival Hall on London’s Southbank.

He is then believed to have fled across Hungerford Bridge before being shot dead.

The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has launched an investigation into the shooting.

LONDON BLOODBATH

Video taken by an eye witness shows officers chasing the man down a footpath before a bang is heard, and the knifeman is seen falling to the ground.

Terrified passersby can be heard screaming and shouting "oh my god" in the background as more emergency service vehicles rush to the scene.

Audree Southiere, 35, an actor at the National Theatre saw the knifeman attack a police officer near the Southbank before he fled across The Thames after being tasered.

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Audree told Sun Online: "We were at the BFI. We heard two officers screaming with the guy running.

"He just turned back with the two knives and he ran through the police guy.

"I think [the police were saying] 'Be aware, arrest this guy, be careful'.

"It was between the National Theatre and the cinema.

"When he arrived on the alley of the Thames he turned back with two knives.

We heard two officers screaming with the guy running. He just turned back with the two knives and he ran through the police guy. Audree Southiere, told Sun Online

"He looked around him a little confused, then he just decided to run.

"The police didn't have guns, but they had taser. We didn't see really well, but he gave some hit on the police guy and the police tried to defend.

"He really ran through the guy with the knife. He didn't know what to do so he just went on one of the police officers.

"The police officer fell and he was on him and the police officer made a couple of tasers.

"After that he ran away."

An eye witness told The Sun: "It was late so thankfully there weren't many people around, it was horrific to see.

"He had one knife in his hand when I saw him, and police were chasing him down the road, and then we heard a bang.

"He put his hands up and they blasted him at close range.

"I couldn't sleep last night. Life is so precious."

Forensic officers were seen this morning combing the scene, which is just 400 metres from Downing Street.

Soraia Gouveia, 28, who works at the Citadines hotel on Northumberland Avenue, said staff working last night heard one shot.

Armed police rushed to the scene and the hotel was put on lockdown until 7am.

She said: "The guy was running with knives down here. In a matter of seconds it was full of police and they shot him.

"The night staff heard one shot. Out guests didn't hear anything, only the receptionists.

"The receptionists didn't see anything, they just heard the shot.

"It was full of police and the helicopter."

Video filmed above Northumberland Avenue showed police lights flashing in the side road Great Scotland Yard where the man was shot.

An IOPC spokesman said a member of the public had initially reported a man acting suspiciously on London's Southbank.

Two MOD cops patrolling the area confronted the knifeman and fired tasers, radioing for police assistance before he raced over Hungerford Bridge.

The IOPC said the dead man's identity is known and his family are being notified.

The Met said no one else was hurt and they were not treating it as terrorism.

The Met said early today: "Police officers on patrol noticed a man who they believed to be acting suspiciously.

"Officers challenged the man who produced two knives.

"Armed officers responded. Taser and a police firearm were discharged during the incident.

"London Ambulance Service attended and the man was pronounced dead at the scene at Great Scotland Yard short time later."

Forensic officers examine the scene after the man was shot dead Credit: London News Pictures

The IOPC confirmed they were investigating Credit: London News Pictures

Police said the man had been acting 'suspiciously' Credit: London News Pictures

Earlier the force tweeted: "A man has been shot dead by officers following an incident in Westminster at 11.27pm on Sunday, March 8.

"This is NOT being treated as a terrorist incident.

"Officers remain on scene and updates will follow. Road closures remain in place."

No police or members of the public were injured.

Transport for London said Northumberland Avenue and part of Whitehall were closed. The two roads run from Trafalgar Square.

Witness Kiandra Howarth tweeted: "What is happening in Whitehall? At least six police cars plus helicopters..."

The Met said its Directorate of Professional Standards and the Independent Office for Police Conduct have been informed, as is routine.

IOPC London Regional Director Sal Naseem said:“Our thoughts are with all of those affected by this tragic incident.

"Our investigators are working hard to secure evidence to establish the sequence of events which resulted in this man’s death.

"It is mandatory for the IOPC to conduct an independent investigation when the police fatally shoot a member of the public."

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Earlier on Sunday a 17-year-old boy was stabbed to death on a bus outside Crystal Palace's stadium Selhurst Park.

Last month undercover cops shot dead a jihadi knifeman in a fake suicide vest who randomly stabbed two strangers in Streatham, South London.

4 Police at the scene this morning near Trafalgar Square and Whitehall Credit: PA:Press Association

4 Roads were cordoned off after the shooting Credit: PA:Press Association