REGINA -- Four people have been injured in a apparently random stabbing incident at a downtown shopping centre in Regina.

Police say three people were taken to hospital and one person was treated at the scene and released.

Police say a male youth is in custody.

The stabbing took place at the Cornwall Centre around the supper hour on Tuesday.

Two police officers who happened to be at the mall as part of their regular downtown patrol beat were quickly on scene.

Police say it appears a suspect armed with a knife started randomly attacking people who were nearby.

"There is no indication as to the suspect's motive at this point," police said in a news release.

"The two police officers challenged the male to drop the knife. Fortunately, the police officers were able to de-escalate the situation by giving direction; the suspect responded by throwing the knife at the officers, but once he was disarmed, he was taken into custody without further incident."

Police say all four victims are male. Their ages weren't immediately released.