Hostage-taker shot dead by Beijing police (Photo/ifeng.com) (Photo/ifeng.com) (Photo/ifeng.com) (Photo/ifeng.com) BEIJING, June 12 (Xinhu...

Hostage-taker shot dead by Beijing police

(Photo/ifeng.com)

(Photo/ifeng.com)

(Photo/ifeng.com)

(Photo/ifeng.com)

BEIJING, June 12 (Xinhua) -- Beijing police shot and killed a man who took a woman and child hostage in the city's Chaoyang district Tuesday afternoon, the city's police said.

The man, armed with a knife, held the two hostages for several hours before being shot at 7 p.m. following several rounds of failed negotiations, the police said.

The hostages have been taken to a hospital for treatment.

The cause of the incident is under investigation.