Police shot dead three parang-wielding men at the home of a villager in Linggi, near Port Dickson this morning.

Negeri Sembilan police chief Osman Salleh said in the 5am incident, police patrolling the area bumped into the men who were busy cutting the gate of a house there.

"Upon realising police's presence, the men felt threatened and attempted to attack a policeman. This forced the policeman to fire shots which hit all three men and they died on the scene," he told reporters here today.

Police also recovered three long swords, a screwdriver, gate cutter, gloves and ski masks from the suspects.

"Police also confiscated two motorcycles believed to have been used by the criminals near the scene. No identification documents were found, but we believe they are foreigners in their 20s," he added.

The bodies were sent to the Tuanku Jaafar Hospital in Seremban for post-mortem.

- Bernama