Eight people were wounded in a stabbing attack at a shopping mall in Minnesota, before the suspected attacker was shot dead by police, officials say.

The attack happened in St Cloud, 70 miles north-west of Minneapolis. The motive of the attack remains unclear.

The suspected attacker reportedly made references to Allah before he was killed.

Image source KSTP

According to local police, none of the injuries were life-threatening.

An off-duty police officer from another jurisdiction shot and killed the suspect, said St Cloud Police Chief Blair Anderson.

The unidentified suspect was said to have been wearing the uniform of a private security firm when the attack occurred.

He asked at least one person if they were Muslim, Blair Anderson said, adding police “will be diligent and get to the bottom of this”.

Police Chief Anderson said police have no evidence to believe more than one person was involved in the attack.