Three people were killed and three others were seriously injured in a stabbing attack at a festival in Solingen, western Germany, on Friday night, police reported. The attack, which occurred around 10 p.m. local time, involved an unidentified man who targeted several individuals. Witnesses told Bild newspaper that the assailant remains at large.
Mayor Tim-Oliver Kurzbach expressed profound sorrow, saying, “It tears my heart apart that there was an attack on our city. I have tears in my eyes when I think of those we have lost. I pray for all those who are still fighting for their lives.”
The incident happened during the town’s 650th anniversary celebration at the Fronhof market square, where live music was being performed. Local police did not provide further details.
Solingen, located in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany’s most populous state, is not known for frequent fatal stabbings or shootings. However, a similar stabbing in June in Mannheim resulted in the death of a 29-year-old policeman during a right-wing demonstration. Additionally, a 2021 train stabbing caused several injuries. The German government is currently considering tighter regulations on public knife carrying, including reducing the permissible blade length.
