Amsterdam police have shot dead a man armed with a knife who was behaving in a ‘confused manner’ in communal gardens in the west of the city.

The man, a 23-year-old German national, failed to respond when asked by the police to put the knife away. Instead he put the knife to his own throat and threatened to kill himself.

Further attempts to persuade him to put down the knife ended in a tussle during which the man made frantic stabbing motions, the police report said. Police then shot him three times in quick succession. He died of his injuries in hospital.

Eyewitness and Parool reporter Ruben Koops said the police spent 15 minutes trying to persuade the man to put the knife away, saying they wanted to help him.

The incident will be investigated by the police authorities.