Police have opened fire on a wanted man inside a popular shopping centre.

Reports of a 29-year-old man at Willows Shopping Centre on Carthew St in Thuringowa Central, Townsville, came through shortly after 3.15pm on Sunday.

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Police attended the centre, where an officer fired their gun at a man hiding under the stairs at a BIG W loading dock.

The man was wanted for alleged serious offences.

“He was of high-risk, had extensive history of violence and weapons offences,” said Shane Prior from the Queensland Police Union.

The 29-year-old was shot by tactical officers sent from Brisbane to track him down and arrest him after he allegedly made threats towards them.

“They’re trained to make a thorough risk assessment of whatever circumstances they’re confronted with,” said Acting Superintendent Damian Crisby.

Medical assistance was given by police before he was taken to Townsville University Hospital in a life-threatening condition.

“He has sustained three gunshot wounds. One to the face, one to the left arm, one to the left abdomen. He is conscious and breathing,” police said.

The police are refusing to reveal whether or not the man was armed, but “there was no risk to community safety.”

The police said the officer who fired the shots is highly experienced and has been part of the Special Emergency Response Team (SERT) for five years.

Although they are often exposed to tense situations, the union said that incidents like this still take their toll.

Anyone who witnessed the incident or was in the area around Carthew St has been urged to contact police.

The shooting was the second involving police in the North Queensland city in just over a week.

Eight days ago, an officer shot dead a man armed with a knife in Townsville’s North Ward.

“Each one of those occasions, police have acted appropriately, and this is no different,” Prior said.

The shooting is being investigated by the Ethical Standards Command with oversight from the Crime and Corruption Commission.