Washington, May 27 (IANS): Two men were fatally stabbed on a crowded commuter train in the US city of Portland after they confronted a passenger who was "yelling a gamut of anti-Muslim and anti-everything slurs", a police spokesman said.

"It is unclear if he was directing (slurs) at specific people but witnesses told us he may have been targeting two girls described as Muslim, one wearing a 'hijab'," Portland police spokesman Sgt. Pete Simpson told CNN late Friday.

The stabbing occurred on a Metropolitan Area Express (MAX) light-rail train on Friday evening.

A suspect is in custody and is being treated for injuries, according to Simpson.

"This is at the early stages of the investigation. We do not know if the suspect was drunk, on medication, had mental issues or anything else," Simpson said.

Witnesses said one of the victims was stabbed in the neck, according to local KOIN news.

Portland police said one man was found suffering from traumatic injuries and first responders attempted to save his life, but he died at the scene. The second victim, also stabbed, died at a hospital.

A third passenger who also tried to intervene with the shouting man was injured, the police added.