Eight people were killed and three wounded in a shooting at a hairdressing salon in the Southern California city of Seal Beach, police said.

Sgt Steve Bowles told KCAL-TV eight were confirmed dead and the other three victims were in a critical condition after the shooting.

Police arrested a man in a traffic stop half a mile from the shooting scene and multiple weapons were seized.

The shooting happened in a cluster of small businesses on Pacific Coast Highway in the community south east of Los Angeles.

The motive was not immediately known.

The shooting was reported at 1.21pm  in a cluster of small businesses on Pacific Coast Highway.

The quiet beachfront city of about 25,000 residents identifies itself as the Gateway to Southern California's Orange County and is about 30 miles from Los Angeles.

It is home to Leisure World, a gated senior citizen community of 9,000 people, as well as the Seal Beach Naval Weapons Station military complex.