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A MAN armed with a knife, reportedly wearing a’fake suicide belt’, has gone on a stabbing rampage where he attacked eight passers-by in a Russian city.

The Siberian knifeman believed to have been wearing a ‘fake suicide belt’ has been named as Bobichel Abdurakhmanov, 23.

He was shot dead by police who arrived at the scene in Surgut after the incident was reported by witnesses.

Eight people including the attacker have been injured during the knife attacks which reportedly happened in broad daylight, at around 11.20am local time.

Islamic State has since taken responsiblity for the knife attack.

The incident took place on Saturday morning in the city of Surgut, where the man “carried out attacks on passers-by, causing stab wounds”, said Russia’s Investigative Committee which probes major crimes.

It said armed police called to the scene had “liquidated” the attacker.

Regional officials said seven people were taken to hospital.

The Investigative Committee said it had established the man’s identity, saying he was a local resident born in 1994, and that they were looking into “his possible psychiatric disorders.”

But the regional interior ministry told Interfax news agency that the theory that the incident was “a terrorist (attack) is not the main one.”

Regional police said officers fired warning shots at the scene before firing at the suspect who was wearing a balaclava.

YouTube footage shown on Russia’s Ren TV television showed a black-clad man lying on a pedestrian walkway with a policeman kneeling on his back as sirens wail.

Two of wounded are in serious condition while five more are stable, a regional government statement said.

The city lies some 2,100 kilometres northeast of Moscow in the oil-rich Khanty-Mansi region.