SOLINGEN (WSN) — On Friday, a knife attack at a festival in Solingen, a city in western Germany, resulted in three deaths and four severe injuries, according to a police spokesperson from nearby Düsseldorf.
Authorities have initiated a “major operation” to locate the suspect, who remains at large. A significant area around the scene has been cordoned off.
A substantial police presence, including special forces and a helicopter, was reported by an AFP photographer. The attacker reportedly “stabbed people indiscriminately,” according to the Bild daily.
The festival was part of the celebrations marking the city’s 650th anniversary. In an online statement, Solingen’s Mayor Tim-Oliver Kurzbach expressed profound “shock, horror, and great grief,” stating that the community is mourning the victims instead of celebrating.
Kurzbach praised the emergency services and extended his sympathies to those who witnessed the attack. He expressed deep sorrow over the violence that struck the city and conveyed his hopes for the recovery of those injured.
North Rhine-Westphalia Premier Hendrik Wuest also voiced his “shock and grief” on social media, condemning the violence as “brutal and senseless” and expressing solidarity with Solingen’s residents, especially the victims and their families.
Solingen, with a population of around 150,000, is situated equidistant from Düsseldorf and Cologne. The festival, which was scheduled to run for three days, was expected to draw up to 75,000 visitors with a range of events including music, street theatre, and comedy.
The Solinger Tageblatt reported that one of the festival organizers announced the event’s cancellation from the stage, and attendees were instructed to leave the city center. Thousands of people vacated the area, with the atmosphere described as “ghostly” by a journalist present.
A witness, Lars Breitzke, who was close to the attack, initially mistook the situation for an issue involving intoxicated individuals. However, upon seeing others injured and blood on the ground, he realized the gravity of the situation.
Festival organizer Philipp Mueller later confirmed to the Tageblatt that the remainder of the festival would be canceled, and all artists and vendors had been informed.
Germany has experienced a series of knife attacks over the past year, prompting Interior Minister Nancy Faeser to pledge stronger measures against knife crime. In late May, a knife attack at a far-right rally in Mannheim resulted in the death of a police officer and injuries to five others.
