THREE members of the same family have been left seriously wounded after a man armed with a knife randomly targeted pedestrians on a busy shopping street in Vienna last night.

A major manhunt was launched in the Austrian capital after the attacker fled the scene.

5 Several people have been seriously wounded after a random knife attack on a busy shopping street in Vienna Credit: breakingservice/Twitter

The lone attacker struck around 6.45pm in the city's Second District, close to its Jewish Community.

At least three people were seriously injured in the attack near the famous Prater park, and another person was knifed just streets away.

Police said: “A man attacked a family — a father, a mother and their 17-year-old daughter — with a knife.

"The three people were seriously injured and their lives are in danger.

“And half an hour later there was another attack and here a person was also seriously injured and their life is in danger.

“We do not know to what extent there is a connection here and any motive remains unclear.”

5

When asked what they knew about the attacker, the spokesman said: “Absolutely nothing. We are looking for a man.”

An Afghan citizen was later arrested.

Pictures have emerged online showing blood-splattered streets as heavily armed police search the area with dogs.

Witness Silvia Franke said: “I saw how someone in the middle of the street was screaming and shouting.

"I thought he was beating his dog judging from his hand movements. And in reality he was stabbing this man.

“He could have stabbed me as well had I been there by chance. He had lost all control.”

5 Officers stand at the underground stop Nestroyplatz as the search continues for the attacker Credit: AP:Associated Press

5 Police patrol streets in the city centre following a knife attack in Vienna Credit: AP:Associated Press

5 An officer blocks a street near the scene of the knife attack Credit: AP:Associated Press

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At least eight emergency vehicles attended the scene and the manhunt was extended to the Kärntner Straße and the Danube Canal areas.

Residents were advised to remain in their homes, and trains around the area were temporarily redirected as a precautionary measure.

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