(Image: WDR/GETTY )

Reports suggest a large-scale manhunt is under way following the killing in Wuppertal-Elberfeld.

The knifeman is said to be inside a building as police close in with images showing officers in a street.

Cops are conducting systematic searches in neighbouring buildings as they attempt to catch the killer.

German reports suggest the stabbing took place close to a hair salon.

The dead victim is believed to have been 31 and the other person hurt aged 25.

It is unclear if the incident is terror-related at this stage.

Local police said in a statement on Twitter: "In Elberfeld it was a homicide. A dead man, a wounded man. Perpetrators continue volatile."

German reports suggest the fatality occured at around 2.45pm this afternoon.

It comes after a knifeman stabbed eight people leaving two dead in Finland earlier today.

And on Thursday Barcelona was rocked by a terror attack when a van ploughed into crowds of people killing 14 and leaving over 100 injured.

Police told German media: "I can confirm that this is a crime.

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"A male has lost his life and another male has been hospitalised."

The condition of the injured man is currently unclear.