Victoria Police are investigating whether the Brighton siege gunman may have taken a hostage in a bid to lure anti-terror police into an ambush.

Yacqub Khayre, 29, was shot by officers on June 5 after killing the receptionist at an apartment block, taking a person hostage, and calling a network television station to declare loyalty to Islamic state.

Speaking to the press, Victoria Police Deputy Commissioner Shane Patton said the Somali-born 29-year-old had a long criminal history. Patton said police were investigating whether the June 5 shootout was intended as trap to kill or wound as many injured officers as possible. ABC reported Khayre was arrested and charged in relation to a domestic terror plot to attack an Australian army base in NSW.

Patton said Khayre was wielding a sawn-off shotgun and had engaged with specialist operation group units first, injuring three officers, before he was killed by police. He said police were treating the events as a terrorism incident.