SYDNEY, Sept. 7 (Xinhua) -- A man has died after being shot in the central business district (CBD) of Melbourne, Australia, in the early hours of Sunday morning.

According to police, the 26-year-old victim was standing with a group of associates on a corner in the CBD when he was shot by an unknown assailant in a vehicle around 3:40 a.m. on Sunday.

He was taken to hospital by his associates, but died from his injuries a short time later.

Speaking at a press conference, Detective Inspector Graham Banks said that the incident is being treated as a targeted attack and confirmed that the victim was known to police.

He said that significant police resources would be deployed to find the killer due to the location and nature of the shooting.

"For it to occur in the heart of the city, even in the early hours of the morning, is just not acceptable," he said.

The victim's associates who dropped him at hospital have been urged to contact police to aid the investigation. ■