One man was killed after being stabbed in the city centre of Birmingham. Seven others were injured.
ADVERTISEMENTA 27-year-old man has been arrested in Birmingham after one person died and seven were injured in a spate of stabbings in the early hours of Sunday morning.
The arrest followed an hours-long manhunt in the English city after what Chief Superintendent Steve Graham said was a "random attack with no clear motive".
He said there was no apparent link between the victims.
There was no suggestion the stabbings were linked to terrorism, gang violence, or a hate crime, he added. No evidence pointed to firearms being used.
"A man has tragically died. Another man and a woman have suffered serious injuries and five others have also been injured, although their injuries are not thought to be life-threatening," police said in a statement.
Officers were called out to reports of stabbings in the centre of the city, which took place between 12.30 am and 2.20 am. They believe the incidents are linked.
"We immediately attended, along with colleagues from the ambulance service," the force said in an earlier statement.
A major incident was declared in the city centre — this is defined in the UK as any emergency that requires the implementation of special arrangements by the emergency services, or another public authority, involving a large number of casualties.
It also describes any situation involving serious harm or a security risk to the public.
A witness at the scene told Euronews that a police cordon had been established on Hurst Sreet, stretched from St John's Walk down to the junction of Claybrook Street, and on Bromsgrove Street from outside the Missing bar to the Loft bar-restaurant.
"I've seen forensics combing the street with torches," they added.
Police have urged anyone who witnessed anything or who has any CCTV or mobile phone footage of the incidents to contact them as soon as possible.
"The information you have may be crucial to our investigation," they said.
Birmingham is Britain's second city, home to more than one million people, and is located in the West Midlands region in central England.