Police in Iceland say they have shot dead a gunman the first time armed police have shot and killed someone in the nation.
Police said officers were called to an apartment in the Reykjavik suburb of Arbaer early yesterday when a man fired a shotgun from inside the flat.
Two policemen, who were not armed, were shot when trying to enter the gunman's apartment. A special armed unit then entered and fired at the man, who was rushed to the hospital, where he died.
Iceland, which has a tiny population of around 320,000, has a low crime rate and gun violence is extremely rare. Its regular police force does not carry firearms.
Haraldur Johannessen, National Commissioner of the Icelandic Police, said yesterday's incident was unprecedented.
