Arsenal defender Pablo Mari was ‘stabbed and seriously injured’ in a supermarket in northern Italy with one of the six victims dying from their injuries.

The incident allegedly took place in a Carrefour in the Milanofiori di Assago shopping centre around 6.30 pm today (October 27).

The 29-year-old, who currently plays for Monza, was one of six people attacked near Milan.

Four men, aged 28, 30, 40 and 80, were reportedly in a serious condition, with a cashier rushed to Rozzano, and one has since passed away.

Two elderly women are said to be in a less serious condition, while Mari was airlifted to Niguarda Hospital and is conscious.

He has received visits from the managing director of Monza, Adriano Galliani, and coach Raffaele Palladino.

Mari’s agent told British onlin platform, MailOnline, that the footballer is ‘understood to be ok’ having suffered a ‘superficial stab wound to the leg’ in the incident.

A 46-year-old man is believed to have picked up a knife from the shelves in the supermarket and then started randomly stabbing people. 

He has been arrested and taken into police custody. 

The motive for the attacks was unknown. Italian authorities said there were no elements to suggest terrorism, LaPresse reported. 

Mikel Arteta, Arsenal’s manager, confirmed the club’s technical director Edu Gaspar had been in contact with Mari’s relatives.

Speaking after Arsenal’s 2-0 defeat at PSV Eindhoven, he said: “I just found out, I know Edu has been in touch with his family… he’s in hospital, he seems to be ok. Hopefully he’s ok.”

A witness told La Repubblica: “We were at the bar, and we thought it was a robbery because we saw some boys and a lady running, then we saw more and more people with upset faces, and we realised that something serious had happened.”

Mari completed a loan move to the Serie A side for the 2022-23 season in August after making 22 appearances for the Gunners.

The Spaniard initially joined Arsenal on loan from Brazilian side Flamengo in January 2020 and made the move permanent the following summer.  

Mari spent the second half of last season in Italy on loan at Udinese, where he made 15 appearances.

“Everyone at Arsenal wishes Pablo well in Italy with AC Monza during this next stage of his career,” said a statement on the club website.