A MAN who tried a stab a Sydney police officer in the back early on Thursday morning has been charged with attempted murder. The 28-year-old will face court today.

CCTV footage has captured the moment the man lunged at police officers with what has been described as a “large carving knife”.

Brazenly, a constable was attacked on the steps of a police station.

Police have said the man approached the two officers, a man and a woman, as they were returning to Eastwood Police Station, on Sydney’s north shore at about 3am on Thursday morning.

CCTV shows the two officers walking up the stairs oblivious to a man walking behind them. He then runs up the stairs with the male officer trying to fend him off.

Police allege the assailant produced a knife and then attempted to stab the male constable three times on the building’s front steps before running off.

Another officer Tasered him, but initially to no effect.

“Six officers pursued the man on foot, before he turned to face police — still holding the knife — and was arrested after being Tasered,” NSW Police said in a statement.

Assistant Commissioner Brett McFadden said the man was known to police and used a 20cm “large carving knife” as a weapon.

“The officers are distressed by the incident but I have to commend their resilience and their tenacity — not only in responding to the threat — but then giving chase into the darkness after a person armed with what can only be described as a large carving knife,” Mr McFadden told reporters in Sydney.

“This is a threat police face each and every day they go to work,” Mr McFadden said.

“Police and enforcement agencies around the world have become a target for people who seek to undertake acts of violence randomly and unprovoked.”

The man was taken to Ryde Police Station where he was charged with attempted murder and refused bail.

He is due to appear Burwood Local Court later on Thursday.

Police have said the male officer who was the victim of the attack was not injured in the incident.