Washington DC - A knife-wielding man slashed at four people in a park near the White House and two were taken to hospital, police said.

"A suspect was arrested by the uniformed division of the Secret Service and handed over to Park Police," US Park Police Lieutenant Phil Beck told AFP.

The suspect is now being held at Anacostia police station in Washington.

Beck said that shortly before noon, a man slashed at four persons, who called for help from a police officer patrolling in Lafayette Park, just north of the White House.

Huh.. Wonder what that is all about? Probably just some nut....