A man around 40 years old was seriously wounded Wednesday afternoon in a stabbing attack on Rechov HaAri in Bnei Brak, as police launched a manhunt for a suspect who fled the scene. Hebrew media reports said the stabbing occurred near a kollel in the area.

Magen David Adom said emergency crews were dispatched at 2:13 p.m. after receiving reports of a stabbing. Paramedics found the victim suffering from penetrating wounds and provided life-saving treatment at the scene before evacuating him to Sheba Medical Center in serious condition.

“The victim was lying conscious but disoriented and suffering from penetrating wounds to his body,” MDA medic Elchanan Rosenstein said. “We provided medical treatment including stopping the bleeding and administering medication, and evacuated him in intensive care condition to the hospital while in serious condition.”

Israel Police said officers were called to the scene immediately after the report was received and began collecting evidence and witness testimony. Authorities said the background to the incident is currently believed to be criminal, not terror-related.

The suspect fled before police arrived, and no arrests had been announced as of Wednesday afternoon.