A knife attack at a festival in the western German city of Solingen on Friday left three people dead and four seriously wounded, local police reported.
The attack occurred at the “Festival of Diversity,” an event marking the city’s six hundred fiftieth anniversary. The incident took place on a central square known as the Fronhof.
Police stated that the perpetrator fled the scene and remains at large. The German news agency dpa, citing unidentified police sources, reported that the weapon was believed to be a knife.
Philipp Müller, one of the festival organizers, addressed attendees from the stage, urging them to “go calmly” and to remain vigilant as the attacker had not been apprehended. Müller confirmed that many people had been wounded by “a knifeman.”
Solingen Mayor Tim Kurzbach expressed shock in a Facebook post, stating, “We all wanted to celebrate our city’s anniversary together and now have dead and wounded to lament.” He added, “It breaks my heart that an attack on our city happened.”
The local newspaper, Solinger Tageblatt, quoted its reporter Celine Derikartz as describing the atmosphere as “spooky.” Derikartz observed that the festive mood had quickly turned to shock, with some attendees seen weeping.
The “Festival of Diversity” began on Friday and was scheduled to run through Sunday. The event featured several stages in central streets offering attractions such as live music, cabaret, and acrobatics.
Solingen, with a population of approximately one hundred sixty thousand residents, is located near the larger cities of Cologne and Duesseldorf.
Authorities have not released information about potential motives for the attack or details about the suspect. The investigation is ongoing, and police are urging the public to remain cautious and report any relevant information.
The incident has raised concerns about security at public events and may prompt a review of safety measures for future festivals in the region.
AP
