LA PAZ (AFP) - Eight people were hurt when a man with suspected mental problems went on a frenzied stabbing spree at the international airport in the Bolivian city of La Paz on Thursday, police and press reports said.

A police sergeant who arrested the 40-year-old suspect was among those stabbed at El Alto airport, witnesses told La Razon newspaper, while the others hurt suffered injuries of varying degrees.

Deputy Interior Minister Jorge Perez said the suspect "will undergo psychiatric evaluation".

The incident happened after the man attempted to buy a ticket to Chile, Mr Perez said. He then went on the rampage, randomly stabbing people with a knife for about a minute in the terminal before he was arrested.