Three killed in Germany festival knife attack
According to police, three people have been killed and four others seriously injured in a knife attack that occurred during a festival in the western German city of Solingen on Friday evening. The attacker is reportedly still at large.
The Bild website reports that the assailant randomly stabbed passers-by, prompting a large-scale manhunt. Police helicopters have been spotted overhead as part of the search effort.
The industrial city was marking its 650th anniversary when the attack occurred around 22:00 local time (21:00 BST). In response, city authorities have instructed people to evacuate the Fronhof market area, and police have established security cordons.
Emergency crews were seen treating the injured at the scene. Bild further reports that 40 tactical vehicles, commanded by SEK (Special Task Force) officers, have been deployed in the search for the suspect. Roads have been blocked and residents have been advised to stay indoors during the ongoing search.
Philipp Müller, a festival organizer, stated that emergency crews were working to save the lives of nine individuals, as reported by the Solinger Tageblatt.
“People are shocked, but left the square peacefully,” Mr Müller said.
Eyewitness Lars Breitzke told the newspaper that he knew something was wrong when he saw a singer on stage with a strange expression on their face.
“And then a person fell over just a metre away from me,” he said.
The attacker is believed to have deliberately stabbed his victims in the neck, German media report.
Police spokesman Alexander Kresta was quoted by Spiegel website as saying “we are currently assuming that it was one person” after talking to numerous eyewitnesses.
In a Facebook statement, Solingen Mayor Tim Kurzbach said: “Tonight all of us in Solingen are in shock, horror and great sadness. We all wanted to celebrate our city anniversary together and now we have to mourn the dead and injured.
“It breaks my heart that an attack has happened in our city. I have tears in my eyes when I think of those we’ve lost. I pray for all those still fighting for their lives. Also my greatest sympathy for all those who had to experience this, these images must have been horrific.”
Speaking to the BBC later on Friday, Solinger Tageblatt’s deputy editor Björn Boch said the celebrations had been “supposed to last for three days, and the city expected 25,000 people every night.
“The city was just packed with people,” he said, estimating that “a few thousand people” were at Friday’s free event.
