TOKYO - A 17-year-old boy was killed, and two other boys were injured after they were stabbed in central Osaka, western Japan, late Saturday, local media reported.

The police received an emergency call around 11:55 pm local time reporting that people had been stabbed on the first floor of a building located in Osaka's busy Dotombori shopping area, Kyodo News reported, citing the Osaka police.

A young man suspected of carrying out the stabbings in the downtown area with many eateries has fled on foot and remains at large, the report said.

The deceased victim from Nara Prefecture sustained stab wounds to the chest and other areas and was pronounced dead at the scene, while the two other 17-year-old boys were taken to hospital with injuries, according to police.

The attacker, believed to be in his twenties, knew the three victims, and they had a dispute shortly before the attack, police said.