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Swiss train passengers - including a six-year-old child - have been attacked by a man with 'fire and a knife' sparking fears of a new terror attack.

According to early reports, a man boarded the train, started a fire and then began stabbing passengers.

At least seven people, including the attacker, were left injured - suffering from burns and knife wounds after the 27-year-old man launched the assault.

A six year-old child is reported to be among those attacked by the man, who police revealed is a Swiss citizen with a 'typical Swiss name'.

Swiss site watson.ch, claimed the suspect was 'on fire' when police tackled him and suffered serious burns.

(Image: newspictures.ch) (Image: newspictures.ch)

There are reports that flammable liquid was used to start a fire in the horrifying assault.

The attack took place on Saturday at around 2:20 p.m, just as the train approached Salez station, between Buchs and Sennwald on the Südostbahn line in the canton of St Gallen in north eastern Switzerland.

The town is less than a kilometre from the border with Liechtenstein.

(Image: newspictures.ch)

At the time of the attack, the train was occupied by several dozen passengers.

Among those hurt was a 17-year-old boy, a 50-year-old man, three women aged 17, 34 and 43, and a 6-year-old child.

The attacker is also understood to have been injured and was arrested before being taken to hospital for treatment.

The carriage was reportedly left covered in blood following the attack, as the badly injured were treated at the scene.

Police - who said the man was armed with 'at least one knife' - firefighters, and three rescue helicopters and care teams are at the scene.

So far there is no further information on the attacker's background or motive available.

German reports have claimed that Zurich police called the attack a 'crime of passion'.

Salez station is closed while police carry out further investigations.

(Image: newspictures.ch)

The attack comes after Europe was rocked by a series of terrorist incidents over the past 12 months.

France, Germany and Belgium have all been targeted, and other European nations have been bracing for assaults on their soil.

(Image: newspictures.ch)

Swiss police and special forces have sealed off the train and the interior minister is believed to be holding a special meeting on how to deal with incident.

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