A woman surnamed Jiao was stabbed in Guantao Town, North China’s Hebei province on March 15, wearing gray clothes, dispelling rumors the attacker targeted women in red clothing. [Photo/Hebei Youth Daily]

A man has been arrested over a series of stabbings involving young women in a case that sparked a wave of panic across the country, Shandong Business Daily reported.

The man surnamed Zhang, 22, from Hebei province has been detained for allegedly stabbing seven women aged in their mid-20s in one week across two provinces.

The knife attacks in Gucheng County in East China’s Shandong province, and Guantao town in Hebei province triggered a wave of fear after it was reported online the "mysterious man" was targeting women who wore red clothes.

The first case was in Guantao Town, North China’s Hebei province on March 15, the second one happened a day later. Within a week five similar cases occurred within Shandong and Hebei provinces, all involving women in their mid 20s. The latest was on March 28 when a woman was stabbed in the back from behind.

Zhang was arrested at his home in Hebei province on April 7 by local police, confessing that the seven stabbings were "just for thrilling excitement".

Further investigation is underway by police, the local newspaper said