Paralympian athlete Oscar Pistorius is in custody after allegedly shooting his girlfriend to death.

Police captain Sarah Mcira told local media that a woman has been shot in her head and arm at Pistorius's home in Pretoria.

The exact circumstances of the incident are uncertain, but it is believed that the athlete mistook her for a burglar, and shot her with a 9mm pistol.

The incident took place at around 6am this morning in South Africa, where gun crime rates are high due to many possessing a gun in order to defend themselves from intruders.

The 26-year-old was the first double amputee to run in the Olympics.