The man who took 30 Malaysian pre-school children and their teachers hostage Thursday has died after being shot by police.

The 40-year-old man was shot by a police sniper hours after he barged into the pre-school in southern Jolor state wielding a hammer and a machete. Police stormed the building after failing to convince the man to surrender during six hours of negotiations.

The suspect, who was believed to be mentally unstable, died several hours later.

All 30 children and their four teachers were freed unharmed.