A man who threatened people with a knife and claimed to have a bomb on the Brooklyn Bridge, one of New York City's iconic landmarks, has been shot and killed by police.

According to U.S. media outlets including the Associated Press on the 4th local time, the man ignored police commands to drop a knife, approached a police officer who was attempting to rescue him, and was shot to death.

According to Gerard Dowling, chief of the New York City Emergency Management department, the man was rampaging on the bridge cables, stating that he wanted to commit suicide and claiming to have a bomb.

Rescue workers spent about an hour trying to persuade him to come down safely and repeatedly ordered him to drop the knife.

However, as the man climbed down the cable and approached within about 0.9 meters of an officer while raising the knife, one of the officers stationed on the bridge roadway fired a shot.

Officers administered first aid following the shooting, but the man died after being transported to a hospital.

His identity has not been released.

Police are investigating whether an actual bomb was present at the scene.

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani stated that police were dispatched after receiving a report that a man appeared to be attempting to jump from the bridge and persuaded him not to jump.

Mayor Mamdani stated, "The man threatened officers with a knife," adding, "He eventually moved toward the officers, coming extremely close to multiple emergency responders, which led one of the responders to open fire."

In the wake of the incident, the Brooklyn Bridge, a major New York attraction, was temporarily closed, causing severe traffic congestion in the surrounding area.

Connecting Manhattan and Brooklyn, the Brooklyn Bridge has been a beloved landmark for New York residents and tourists alike since its opening in 1883.

(Photo: Getty Images)