In a stabbing attack on Sunday night at a church near the San Jose State University campus in the state of California, two individuals died and dozens had life-threatening injuries, police said.

On Twitter, San Jose Police Media Relations said that response units were at the scene of the Grace Baptist Church at 484 E San Fernando St., reacting to a possible stabbing" noting that it was an active scene" and asking individuals to avoid the location.

Subsequently, the police reported that there were many stabbing victims, some with life-threatening injuries, adding Two victims have succumbed to their injuries and have been pronounced deceased."

"For clarification, no church services were being conducted at the time of the stabbing. Unhoused individuals were brought into the church to get them out of the cold," it also said.

"Our hearts go out to the families of the two community members who have succumbed to stabbing wounds in the attack at Grace Baptist Church downtown tonight."Our hearts go out to the families of the two community members who succumbed to stabbing wounds in tonight's attack at downtown Grace Baptist Church.

However as he made reference to an ongoing investigation, Liccardo later deleted his tweet and added that a police statement about the status of the investigation and arrest will be released shortly.

There was no further comment from the San Jose Police Department as of Monday, 0025 PST (0825GMT).