COLORADO SPRINGS, Jan 14 — A man was taken into custody after stabbing eight people at multiple locations in Colorado Springs yesterday morning in what police said appeared to be a random act of violence.

The stabbing spree, which began about 1.30am, took place near walking trails in the Colorado city of 460,000 people, the Colorado Springs Police Department said on its website.

Responding police officers found two victims on the city's west side and tracked the suspect along trails where they found several more victims.

Officers then responded to a call saying several other victims had been found nearby and that some of them had detained the suspect, the department said.

Seven victims were taken to the UCHealth Memorial Hospital Central in Colorado Springs and five of them had been discharged, the hospital said.

The conditions of the hospitalised victims were not disclosed by the hospital. — Reuters