Three people were killed and eight others injured, five seriously, in a stabbing attack at a festival on Friday night in Solingen, a city in western Germany, according to police reports. The incident occurred around 10 p.m. local time (2000 GMT) when an unidentified man attacked multiple people. The assailant is still at large.
Solingen Mayor Tim-Oliver Kurzbach expressed deep sorrow following the attack, stating, “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 attack took place at the Fronhof, a market square where live bands were performing, as part of a festival celebrating the town’s 650th anniversary. The remaining events of the weekend have been canceled.
North Rhine-Westphalia’s Interior Minister, Herbert Reul, visited the scene early on Saturday. He described the incident as a targeted attack on human life but refrained from speculating on the motive.
Germany has seen a push by the government to tighten regulations on carrying knives in public, following a series of violent incidents in recent years. In June, a 29-year-old police officer was fatally stabbed during an attack at a right-wing demonstration in Mannheim. Additionally, a stabbing attack on a train in 2021 left several people injured.
As of Saturday morning, police continued their search for the unknown assailant, interviewing victims and witnesses.
