TEL AVIV: An assailant stabbed and seriously wounded a person in the centre of Tel Aviv on Saturday, before being shot and `neutralised` by a civilian.

Police had initially spoken of a shooting with several wounded, but clarified in a later statement that the `terrorist` was armed with only a knife.

`Initial investigations reveal that a terrorist armed with a knife arrived at the restaurant area on Levontin Street and stabbed a civilian,` the later statement said.

`An armed civilian nearby shot and neutralised the attacker.

Police said the stabbing victim was taken to hospital with serious wounds.

Emergency service provider Magen David Adom said its staff were providing medical treatment to a 30-yearold male `injured from stabbing` in the attack. It said he was taken to hospital in a conscious state.-AFP