AKIPRESS.COM - Police in a suburb of Melbourne, Australia have shot dead a man after a hostage situation at an apartment building, BBC reported.

Officers went to the address in Brighton after reports of an explosion - they found one man already dead in a stairwell.

Another man holding a woman against her will was found inside the building.

Specialist police began negotiations but officers then stormed the building and shot the hostage-taker dead.

Three officers received non-life threatening injuries in the operation, one requiring hospital treatment.

The woman was rescued unharmed.

The area has been cordoned off and people are being advised to stay away.