A KNIFEMAN who went on a ruthless slashing and stabbing rampage killing one and injuring eight others has been arrested by police.

The 27-year-old, identified in local media as Konrad K, attacked shoppers from behind at a bustling mall in Stalowa Wola, in southeast Poland this afternoon.

5 A 27-year-old local man was arrested at the scene by police

5 A victim is put into an ambulance by emergency workers

Six people are reported to be in serious condition following the bloody attack which happened at around 3pm Friday. According to eyewitnesses, the attacker was running around the VIVA shopping centre slashing and stabbing random passersby. The man, who is thought to be local to the area, was wrestled to the ground by shoppers and mall security and is now being questioned by police. Police officer Anna Klee was quoted by the PAP news agency as saying the weapon was a knife and a 50-year-old woman died in the hospital. 5 The man struck at the VIVA shopping centre 5 The knifeman is said to have attacked all his victims from behind Credit: Rex Features

5 Police say the incident is not terror related Credit: EPA

She said: "He was attacking people from behind, hitting them with the knife."

In the frenzy he man even stabbed himself in the back.

An eyewitness told local media: “I saw the first victim attacked just two metres from where I was standing.

“I heard a girl standing next to him scream. I wanted to run to him, help him, but I noticed that blood was starting to flow from his neck. At this point, somebody ran up to us and told us to leave. We started running.”

First aid was provided by women working in the shopping centre pharmacy until firemen and ambulance teams arrived.

Mayor of Stalowa Wola, Lucjusz Nadberezny, said: “With the courage and commitment of the people who witnessed this tragic event, the perpetrator was arrested and sent to the police.”

His motive for the attack has not been confirmed.

A spokesman said he has so far refused to speak but he proved negative to an alcohol test.

Police say the incident is not terror related.