A man armed with a knife has fatally stabbed one person at a supermarket in the German city of Hamburg and wounded four others as he fled.

The man was arrested after the incident in the Barmbek district of the northern port city.

One person died at the scene after the assailant entered the supermarket, police said. As he fled, he injured another four people.

He was overwhelmed by passers-by and slightly injured in the process, police said. Officers were then able to arrest the man.

Police spokesman Timo Zill said authorities are investigating all possibilities in relation to the attack, which was carried out with a kitchen knife, according to the dpa news agency.

Police do not yet have any information on the assailant's motive, but there was no indication there was more than one attacker involved.

Barmbek is in north-eastern Hamburg, situated away from the city centre.

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