A man, wielding a knife and saying the word "Allah" lunged at an officer in a police station near Barcelona, Spain, on Monday in what police said was a terrorist act, and was shot dead.

Police said the man entered the station in Cornella, in the northeastern region of Catalonia, shortly before 0400 GMT, seeking information.

He then leaped toward an officer, brandishing a large knife, they said. The attacker, identified only as living in Cornella, was shot dead.