TOKYO: Three people, including two police officers, were killed on Thursday in a shooting and stabbing attack in the central region of Nagano, reports AFP.

A male suspect was holed up inside a building after the incident, according to public broadcaster NHK and other major outlets.

Residents were urged to stay indoors by authorities in the area around Nakano, where the attack took place.

A woman was stabbed and two police officers were shot in the afternoon attack at a farm, the reports said.

An eyewitness told NHK he had been working nearby when he saw a woman being stabbed. A woman came running from the road saying ‘help me’ and she fell down, the man said.

Behind her came a man wearing camouflage and carrying a large knife, who stabbed her in the back.

The witness said he had called the police while neighbours tried to resuscitate the woman.