One person killed and two injured in stabbing outside train station in Japan

Members of police examine the scene of a knife attack in Nagano, Japan (Kyodo News via AP)

One person died and two others were injured in a knife attack outside a train station in central Japan, authorities said.

Police were looking for a suspect who fled after the attack in Nagano on Wednesday night.

Nagano police and fire department officials said a 49-year-old man was pronounced dead in hospital.

Paramedics attend the scene of a knife attack in front of Nagano Station in Nagano, Japan (Kyodo News via AP)

A 37-year-old man was wounded but conscious, while a 46-year-old woman had a head injury from falling.

Those attacked described the suspect as an unfamiliar middle-aged man, the Kyodo News agency reported.

The stabbing occurred near a bus terminal outside Nagano station.

Violent crimes are rare in Japan, which has strict gun control laws.

But in recent years there have been a number of high-profile cases involving random knife attacks and arson on subways.