German police launched a large-scale search Saturday for an assailant who killed three people and wounded at least eight others, five seriously, in a knife attack at a festival in the western city of Solingen.
The attack occurred shortly after 9:30 p.m. Friday at the “Festival of Diversity,” an event marking the city’s 650th anniversary. Police said the perpetrator, believed to be acting alone, fled the scene.
“The police are currently conducting a large-scale search for the perpetrator,” authorities said in a statement. Special units have been deployed around Solingen’s city center, and an online portal has been established for witnesses to upload relevant information.
Police have not released information about the attacker’s identity or the victims.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz expressed shock over the incident. “The attack in Solingen is a terrible event that has shocked me greatly,” Scholz said on social media platform X. “An attacker has brutally killed several people. We mourn the victims and stand by their families.”
German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier also commented on the attack. “The heinous act in Solingen shocks me and our country,” Steinmeier said in a statement. “The perpetrator needs to be brought to justice. Let’s stand together — against hatred and violence.”
The festival, which began Friday and was scheduled to run through Sunday, featured live music, cabaret, and acrobatics on several stages throughout the city center.
Solingen, with approximately 160,000 residents, is located near Cologne and Duesseldorf.
The incident has reignited concerns about knife violence in Germany. Interior Minister Nancy Faeser recently proposed tightening weapons laws to reduce the maximum blade length allowed in public from 12 centimeters (4.7 inches) to 6 centimeters (2.4 inches).
As the investigation continues, authorities are urging the public to remain vigilant and report any information that could lead to the apprehension of the suspect.
