Five people were stabbed early on Saturday in a restaurant in Washington, D.C., police said. The incident occurred around 12:30 am at McFadden's, a popular restaurant and nightclub on Pennsylvania Avenue, eight blocks from the White House in the nation's capital.

All five victims were taken to hospital with knife wounds, a police spokesman said Saturday. Their identities have not been released.

Police said the stabbing happened inside the bar. Photos posted on Twitter Saturday show a blood-splattered sidewalk.

Calls to McFadden's requesting comment were not returned.-Reuters