An Arsenal football player and at least five other people have been stabbed in a shopping centre attack in northern Italy that has left one man dead.
The media reports said a man grabbed a knife from a supermarket shelf and stabbed six people inside a shopping centre south of the Italian city of Milan on Thursday.
Pablo Mari, an Arsenal player who is on loan to Italian club Monza, was among at least five injured in the attack
The BBC reported that a 46-year-old suspect was detained.
A supermarket employee died en route to the hospital, according to the ANSA news agency, which said three other victims were in serious condition.
Italian police said one person had died, a Bolivian national.
The motive for the attacks was unknown. Italian authorities said there were no elements to suggest it was an act of terrorism.
Witnesses told ANSA they saw people fleeing the supermarket in shock, and as the gravity of the situation became clear, shop workers pulled down the store's shutters.
The Carrefour supermarket chain said police and ambulance crews immediately responded to calls alerting them to the attack.
The company expressed its sympathies to employees and clients affected by the attack and said it was offering them psychological support.
Pablo Mari 'should recover quickly'
Football star Mari was reported to be in a stable condition.
The 29-year-old Spanish centre back has been on loan from Arsenal to Serie A club Monza.
Monza chief executive Adriano Galliani told Sky Italy: "Pablo Mari had a fairly deep wound on his back, which fortunately did not touch his vital organs such as the lungs or others.
"His life is not in danger. He should recover quickly."
Arsenal said in a statement: "We have been in contact with Pablo's agent who has told us he's in hospital and is not seriously hurt."
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta said: "I just found out. I know [technical director] Edu has been in touch with his relatives. He's in hospital but he seems to be OK."
Arteta was speaking at a news conference after his team's match against PSV Eindhoven in the Europa League.
Galliani earlier said on Twitter: "Dear Pablo, we are all here close to you and your family, we love you, keep fighting as you know how to do, you are a warrior and you will get well soon."
ABC/wires
