Canadian police shot dead a man who stabbed three people in a rampage outside a church in downtown Vancouver, Canada, NBC News quoted officials as saying Friday.

Vancouver police said officers responded to reports of a man stabbing people at around 5 p.m. local time and found an assailant wielding a knife outside the First United Church.

Officers used a bean-bag shotgun in an attempt to subdue the suspect but were unsuccessful, police said in a statement.

When the suspect began stabbing a woman, nearby police opened fire with live rounds, the police added.

Authorities have not named the suspect, who was announced dead at the scene.