MONTREAL (AFP) - A man brandishing a knife stabbed two Canadian soldiers at a Toronto recruiting station before he was subdued and arrested, police said late on Monday (March 14).

The 27 year-old male suspect made some comments before the police arrived "which has caused some concern", suggesting that the attack could related to terrorism, Toronto Police Chief Mark Saunders told reporters.

But he emphasised: "We don't have at this time a clear understanding of what the motivation is."

The suspect entered the government office building on Monday afternoon and without provocation stabbed a soldier at the reception desk, then managed to wound a second soldier.

"At this time, through the training of the Canadian Forces, they were able to subdue" the suspect, Saunders said.

Neither of the victims were seriously wounded, he said.

Had the other soldiers "not reacted the chances of this being much more severe, much more serious definitely would've occurred."

The suspect, who was not identified, was arrested and taken to a hospital for a mental evaluation "before the investigation will be further initiated", Saunders said.

Saunders said that his agents were working with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) to investigate the case.

Saunders said that any connection with a jihadist group would be "seriously" analysed.

Further information on the case will be announced on Tuesday, he added.