After the stabbing at the St. Cloud Crossroads Mall Saturday night, Mayor Dave Kleis and Chief of Police Blair Anderson spoke at a press conference.

Kleis says he sends out his thoughts and prayers to the victims of the stabbing. There were eight victims taken to the St. Cloud Hospital’s Emergency Room. Seven have been released but one remains in the hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

Chief Anderson then spoke at a press conference. He says there was only one assailant who came into the mall after 8 p.m. He reportedly made praises to Allah and one worker at the mall says victims were asked if they were Muslim before they were attacked. The suspect was later shot and killed by an off duty police officer from another law enforcement agency. Authorities believe the suspect was working alone.

Anderson said the victims were injured in many locations throughout the mall from common areas to retail locations. A large number of shoppers and store employees were kept inside the mall’s food court area for several hours after the incident so police could gather witness information and other details.

Kleis and Anderson also thanked the law enforcement agencies who came from the surrounding communities along with the rapid response from both firefighters and emergency responders.

The Crossroads Mall in St. Cloud will be closed until further notice as the investigation continues.