Police in Venlo have shot dead a 22-year-old Polish national who was threatening them with a knife, news agency ANP said on Thursday.

The shooting took place in the Venlo district of Blerick in the early hours of Thursday morning. The man was seriously injured in the shooting and died of his injuries in hospital.

Police were called to the scene at around 05.30 hours after reports of a man threatening others with a knife. Police fired shots when he began to threaten them as well, the Volkskrant quoted the public prosecution department as saying.

A formal investigation into the shooting has been started. According to local Limburg media, the incident began after the victim asked a man out walking his dog for a light.

When the dog-walker was unable to give him one, the suspect followed him home and began waving a knife around, at which point the police were called.