West Auckland

The Sri Lankan national was shot dead by police after stabbing six people inside Countdown in LynnMall.

Suppression orders prevented details about his identity and background from being made public.

The Crown filed an urgent application last night to have the court orders lifted, so details about the man's identity and background could be made public.

In a judgment last night, Justice Wylie said there was no longer any proper basis for the suppression orders.

The prime minister and the police commissioner addressed the media after the man was fatally shot at a west Auckland mall this afternoon.

It is understood six people - all shoppers at the mall - have been injured in the incident at LynnMall in New Lynn.

St John said three patients in a critical condition and one patient in a serious condition have been taken to Auckland City Hospital; one patient in a moderate condition has been taken to Waitakere hospital; and one patient in a moderate condition has been taken to Middlemore Hospital.