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An Irish man has been shot dead by police in Malta after the death of a woman.

Maltese police said a 50-year-old man was shot following a three-hour stand-off in the town of St Julian's.

They said that at about 23:50 local time on Sunday, they received a call for assistance at a hotel in St Julian's after a man reportedly entered a hotel with a firearm and started threatening employees.

Police conducted a search and the man was spotted on rocks behind the hotel. Officers spoke to the man while he was in the sea and began negotiating the surrender of the weapon, which was later determined to be a replica firearm.

After about three hours of negotiations, police said they shot the man after he pointed the weapon at officers.

"The police ordered him to bring down the weapon however the man did not comply and the police were constrained to shoot him," a spokesman said.

"The man was immediately given medical assistance and then transferred to Mater Dei Hospital, where he was certified dead some time later."

As negotiations took place, a 48-year-old woman was found dead in an apartment in the nearby town of Birkirkara. Police said the Maltese woman had been stabbed to death.

The Irish Department of Foreign Affairs said it was aware of the case and was providing consular assistance.