A suspect has been taken into custody by police in Michigan after multiple victims were stabbed aboard an Amtrak train in the small city of Niles, a police dispatcher said.

The Niles Police Department dispatcher, who only gave her name as Nicole, could not immediately say how many people were hurt, or give any further details on the incident or suspect.

Multiple victims stabbed on train in Michigan, suspect in custody: police http://t.co/AMarDAQdNT

— Reuters Top News (@Reuters) December 6, 2014

Amtrak said the incident took place on Train 364, the Blue Water service, which runs daily between Chicago and Port Huron, Michigan.

• ISIL battle akin to third world war
• New South Wales boy flies ISIL flag 
• Murdered aid worker sends final farewell

The incident happened while the train was at the station in Niles, a city of about 12,000 people.

The company gave no details of the incident, but said in a statement a person was in custody and the Amtrak Police Department is assisting in the investigation.

The Chicago Sun Times newspaper quoted a Twitter user who said four people were stabbed in the next carriage along from him, and who uploaded a photograph of a man in a gray jacket lying in handcuffs on the floor of the train.

“Crazy world we live in. Some man just stabbed 4 people one car away from me on the train,” Twitter user @Chris_Maynard said.

Amtrak said the train had been traveling to Port Huron at the time of the incident, and it said the company is working to arrange alternate transport for 172 passengers.

Reuters