At least five injured in chainsaw attack as Swiss police continue to search for suspect

Five people were taken to the hospital, two of them with serious injuries, following an apparent chainsaw attack Monday in the northern Swiss city of Schaffhausen, police said.

Police gave no more details of the attack, which prompted them to seal off the centre of the town on the German border, but added that they do not believe it is a terror attack.

In a webcast by Swiss newspaper Blick, a spokeswoman said police were searching for the suspect, who they have identified.

Witnesses, including a local shop manager, told Blick the attacker was wielding a chainsaw and that businesses and pedestrians had been evacuated.

"It is not yet clear what exactly happened," police spokeswoman Cindy Beer told Blick.

Ms Beer added that police believe the attacker is a bald man about 190 cm tall and of unkempt appearance.

They believe he may be travelling in a Volkswagen Caddy with number plates beginning with GR, which means the vehicle is registered in the Swiss canton of Graubünden.

Police have released pictures of the suspect.

Dozens of police cars and ambulances have been sent to the town on the German border, and a police helicopter is hovering over the town centre.

A rescue helicopter was being used to aid the victims.

Schaffhausen is a city north of Zurich, with a population of about 36,000.

Police and prosecutors refused to elaborate further as the manhunt was ongoing.