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A man has been shot by police after he allegedly ran towards officers with a meat cleaver in the NSW city of Newcastle.
Emergency services were called to a unit block on Hanbury Street in Mayfield at 4pm for a welfare check.
Police claim a Taser was deployed as the man ran towards them but this was unsuccessful.
The resident, in his 40s, was then shot by police, who immediately assisted the man as paramedics travelled to the scene.
The man was taken to John Hunter Hospital in a serious condition.
There will be an investigation into the incident and this will be subject to an independent review.
