Three people were killed and four others severely injured in a knife attack at a festival in Solingen, western Germany, on Friday night, according to police from nearby Düsseldorf. Authorities have launched a major operation to capture the suspect, who remains on the run. A wide area around the city has been cordoned off, and a large police presence, including special forces and a helicopter, was deployed at the scene.
The festival, part of the city’s 650th anniversary celebrations, was abruptly halted following the attack. Solingen Mayor Tim-Oliver Kurzbach expressed profound shock and grief, stating that the city is mourning the loss of life and injuries. He praised the emergency services for their efforts and extended sympathy to those who witnessed the incident.
Germany’s Interior Minister Nancy Faeser also condemned the attack, calling it “brutal and senseless” and assured that police are working diligently to apprehend the perpetrator. She expressed deep shock over the incident and emphasized the commitment of security authorities to resolve the situation.
The Solinger Tageblatt reported that the festival was immediately canceled, and thousands of attendees were evacuated from the city center. The atmosphere was described as “ghostly” following the evacuation. Festival organizers have confirmed that the remainder of the event will also be canceled.
The incident is part of a troubling trend of knife attacks in Germany over the past year. In late May, a police officer was killed and five others were injured in a knife attack at a far-right rally in Mannheim.
