Police shot a man wielding a meat cleaver after he allegedly attacked and injured four young girls during a frenzied and bloody assault inside a Brooklyn apartment, New York City officials have confirmed.

The incident unfolded on Sunday morning in southern Brooklyn, when an 11-year-old girl called 911 at around 10.15am to report that she and her siblings had been attacked by their uncle. New York City Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said the child managed to run and hide in a bedroom during the attack before placing the emergency call. Ms Tisch said: "The 11-year-old caller stated that she and her siblings had been stabbed by their uncle." The girl did not know the address of the apartment, but police used phone tracing technology to identify the location.

Officers and emergency medical services arrived within minutes. A young boy related to the victims had also fled to a neighbour’s apartment and opened the building door for police when they arrived.

Officers were directed by screams coming from one of the flats. They kicked in the door and were immediately confronted by the suspect, standing near the entrance and holding what Ms Tisch described as a large, blood-covered meat cleaver.

She said: "Once they entered, they encountered a man standing near the entrance holding a large meat cleaver covered in blood, and they could see blood on the floor and the walls of the home."

Officers ordered the man repeatedly to drop the weapon, but he refused and began moving toward them.

Ms Tisch said: "He refused and advanced toward them. Two officers discharged their firearms, firing seven total rounds between them, striking the subject, ending the threat."

The 49-year-old suspect was taken to Maimonides Medical Center in critical condition. Police said he remains hospitalised.

All four girls — aged 8, 11, 13, and 16 — were seriously injured with stab and slash wounds. They were also taken to Maimonides for treatment and are expected to survive.

Police recovered a second kitchen knife, also covered in blood, from the apartment. Investigators later showed photographs of both weapons.

Ms Tisch praised the response by officers and paramedics: "Their fast, decisive action pinpointing the location and taking down the door absolutely saved the lives of these young girls.”

NYPD Chief of Department John Chell said detectives were working to confirm the suspect’s relationship to the victims. He confirmed the children’s mother was not present at the time of the attack.

Mr Chell said: "Relatives of the suspect told police he has a history of mental illness and lives at the home where the attack occurred."

He added that there had been no previous calls for service at the address. The incident was captured on body-worn cameras, and the investigation is ongoing.