OSLO: The imam of Oslo's main mosque was recuperating in hospital on Tuesday after a masked assailant repeatedly hacked him with a small axe in the centre of the Norwegian capital, a report said.

Nehma Ali Shah was attacked as he returned home from the Central Jamaat Ahle-Sunnat mosque late on Monday, the Aftenposten daily reported.

The religious leader, who suffered wounds to his face and hands, was in a stable condition after undergoing an operation, it said.

The police said they would hold a press conference on the attack later on Tuesday.

On their Twitter account, the police said that a stabbed man had been taken to hospital with serious injuries and that numerous units were hunting for the attacker.