Police in the Dutch capital have shot and wounded a suspect following a stabbing at Amsterdam's busy central railway station.

Two people were injured in the stabbing, according to officials, with the tunnel under the station's tracks closed following the incident.

Witnesses reported people fleeing the scene in all directions as the incident unfolded.

“Was at Central Station in Amsterdam and heard two gunshots, everybody started running like crazy and taking shelter in stores and shops… crazy stuff man,” wrote Michiel de Graaf on Twitter.

In a statement Dutch police said both the suspect and an injured victim had been taken to hospital following the attack.

“Both the suspect and the two victims of the stabbing incident were transferred to the hospital for treatment,” a police spokesperson said.

“An extensive investigation is carried out on site. At this moment the police cannot report anything about the background of the stabbing incident.”

Amsterdam station attack: knifeman injures two at busy rail terminal Show all 8 1 /8 Amsterdam station attack: knifeman injures two at busy rail terminal Amsterdam station attack: knifeman injures two at busy rail terminal Officials stand inside a cordonned-off area at The Central Railway Station in Amsterdam after two people were injured in a stabbing incident AFP/Getty Amsterdam station attack: knifeman injures two at busy rail terminal The Police shot a suspect after the two people were stabbed AFP/Getty Amsterdam station attack: knifeman injures two at busy rail terminal The suspect and two other people who were injured in the stabbing incident were taken to hospital AFP/Getty Amsterdam station attack: knifeman injures two at busy rail terminal A view of a sealed off by the Police part of the central train station EPA Amsterdam station attack: knifeman injures two at busy rail terminal Security officials cordon off an area outside The Central Railway Station in Amsterdam AFP/Getty Amsterdam station attack: knifeman injures two at busy rail terminal epa06986399 Police at the central train station after a stabbing incident in Amsterdam, Netherlands, 31 August. The Police have shot a suspect after two people were stabbed. The suspect and two other people who were injured in the stabbing incident were taken to hospital. EPA/REMKO DE WAAL REMKO DE WAAL EPA Amsterdam station attack: knifeman injures two at busy rail terminal epa06986401 Police at the central train station after a stabbing incident in Amsterdam, Netherlands, 31 August. The Police have shot a suspect after two people were stabbed. The suspect and two other people who were injured in the stabbing incident were taken to hospital. EPA/REMKO DE WAAL REMKO DE WAAL EPA Amsterdam station attack: knifeman injures two at busy rail terminal In this image made from video, Dutch police officers stand near the scene of a stabbing attack near the central daily station in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, Friday Aug. 31, 2018. Police the Dutch capital shot and wounded a suspect Friday following a stabbing at the central railway station. Amsterdam police said in a series of tweets that two people were injured in the stabbing and the suspect was then shot by officers. (AP Photo/Alex Furtula) Alex Furtula AP

The motive for the stabbing was not immediately clear.

Local television station AT5 has reported the attack has followed an argument.

Amsterdam police said on Twitter “all possible scenarios” would be considered during its investigation.

“There was huge chaos at the station,” Jaime van Gastel told Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf. “It was teeming with police. I saw something like fifteen cars and a lot of agents.

“I saw a bag lying down, so maybe I was thinking about a bag left behind or a suspicious package. but then I saw that an ambulance employee with first-aid equipment was running to the station.

“Someone told me that there was a man who had stabbed people. What exactly happened is still very unclear.”

Central Station is a major transport hub in the Dutch capital and is often filled with tourists travelling to and from the city’s Schiphol airport.