German police have intensified a manhunt after a deadly knife attack at a street festival in Solingen on Friday night.
The attacker killed three people and injured eight others, five of whom are in serious condition. Police have sealed off the city center, questioning witnesses and victims, as special forces and helicopters aid in the search for the suspect.
The attack occurred around 9:40 pm local time during Solingen's 650th anniversary celebration. According to reports, the unidentified assailant stabbed festival-goers indiscriminately.
Did you read this?
Witness Lars Breitzke described the horrifying scene, initially mistaking a victim's fall for drunkenness before realizing others were also lying in pools of blood.
The festival, expected to draw up to 75,000 visitors over three days, was canceled following the tragedy. Philipp Mueller, one of the event organizers, announced the cancellation on stage, leading thousands to leave the area in shock.
The festival was set to feature music, street theater, variety shows, and comedians in several locations across the city.
Solingen’s mayor, Tim-Oliver Kurzbach, expressed the city's collective grief, stating, "It tears my heart apart that there was an attack on our city." He offered condolences to the victims and their families, thanking emergency services for their rapid response.
North Rhine-Westphalia's state premier, Hendrik Wuest, echoed these sentiments, calling the attack an act of "brutal and senseless violence."
This tragic incident adds to a troubling trend of knife attacks in Germany over the past year. Interior Minister Nancy Faeser has vowed to address the rise in knife-related crimes.
The Solingen community, now in mourning, had hoped to celebrate its rich history but must instead come to terms with an unimaginable loss.
