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AAP
AAP
National
Savannah Meacham

Top cop concerned about rise in armed offenders

Queensland Police Commissioner Steve Gollschewski is concerned more people with weapons. (Jono Searle/AAP PHOTOS)

Queensland's top cop is concerned about the increase in offenders confronting police with weapons after two armed men were shot by officers.

Police went to a North Toowoomba home on Monday afternoon to find a man wanted for questioning but the incident escalated.

The 45-year-old man ran at officers with a knife leading to them firing their weapons at his chest, police allege.

He was rushed to hospital with life-threatening injuries where he remains in a critical condition.

Two officers received minor wounds and were treated at hospital.

"These sorts of things are very confronting for everyone, for our community, for our members, and certainly we hope that it turns out well in terms of the person that's been involved, that's under investigation," Police Commissioner Steve Gollschewski told reporters on Tuesday.

Another man remains in hospital in a critical condition after being shot by police on Sunday.

He had approached officers with a bladed object in bushland at Tolga, in the state's far north, leading to police again firing their gun at his abdomen.

Both incidents will be investigated by the Ethical Standards Command

Mr Gollswchewski said there has not been a rise in shootings but more people are being confrontational with police.

"I am concerned that we are seeing more people with weapons, blighted weapons, in particular, wanting to confront police in these types of situations," he said.

"I'm very concerned about the level of violence we're seeing in our society, and in particular, people with mental health issues."

He said the incidents can unfold rapidly and police are left to make a quick decision when faced with a weapon.

"We've seen tragedies like Bondi in Sydney, how that can unfold when it goes bad so this is a really, really difficult situation," he said.

Mr Gollschewski said he is looking at how the force can be strengthened through training, support and equipment.

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