(ST. CLOUD) -- St. Cloud's police chief says the suspect in a stabbing attack on customers at the Crossroads Shopping Center in St. Cloud Saturday night referenced "Allah" and asked a victim if they were Muslim.

Police Chief Blair Anderson says the armed suspect -- dressed in a security guard uniform -- walked into Crossroads Shopping Center Saturday night just after 8 before stabbing at least eight people. Anderson says an off-duty officer from another jurisdiction engaged the suspect and fatally shot him.

Anderson says according to witness accounts to police, the suspect made some references to Allah and asked at least one person in the mall if they were Muslim before attacking them.

Police say the Crossroads Shopping Center is an active crime scene and will be closed Sunday as police process the crime scene and interview people who were in the mall at the time of the attack.

Police were called to Crossroads Center at 8:15 p.m. Saturday after they started receiving phone calls from people inside the mall.

Chief Anderson says the stabbings happened in multiple locations in the mall.

Chris Nelson with CentraCare Health says eight people were taken to St. Cloud Hospital. Five were treated and released. Three were admitted overnight with non-life threatening injuries.

Anderson says there is no evidence that anyone besides the one suspect was involved in the stabbing. He says there's no imminent threat to residents.

Police have not released the identity of the attacker, but they know who he is. Chief Anderson says they have had previous contacts with the suspect for minor traffic stops.

Area law enforcement from around the region stepped-in to help St. Cloud Police in the aftermath of the attack. Chief Anderson says the FBI has offered their help, as well.

EDITOR'S NOTE: This version of the story clarifies that three victims were hospitalized overnight.