
(Scypre.com) – A tragic knife attack occurred at a festival in Solingen, a city in western Germany, on Friday night, resulting in the deaths of at least three people and injuries to several others, according to local authorities. The city of Solingen, which is approximately 18 miles from Düsseldorf, was celebrating its 650th anniversary with the “Festival of Diversity” when the attack took place.
Witnesses reported the incident to the police shortly after 9:30 p.m. local time, stating that an unknown assailant had wounded multiple individuals with a knife at Fronhof, a central square in the city. Düsseldorf police spokesperson Anja Kynast confirmed the casualties, stating that three people had been killed and at least four others were injured. The attacker remains at large, with limited information currently available on their identity or motive.
One of the festival organizers, Philipp Müller, addressed the crowd from the stage, urging them to remain calm and vigilant as the perpetrator had not yet been apprehended. “Please keep your eyes open, because unfortunately the perpetrator hasn’t been caught,” Müller said, acknowledging the severity of the situation. Solingen Mayor Tim Kurzbach expressed the city’s grief in a social media post, stating, “The city is in shock, fright, and great sadness. We all wanted to celebrate our city anniversary together and now we have to mourn the dead and injured.”
The attack has led to the cancellation of the remainder of the festival, which was originally scheduled to continue through Sunday. The event featured various performances, including live music, cabaret, and acrobatics, and was intended to be a joyous celebration of the city’s rich history.
The German news agency dpa reported that police sources, who have remained unidentified, believe a knife was the weapon used in the attack. As of now, no arrests have been made, and the investigation is ongoing.
Solingen, a city of approximately 160,000 residents, has been left reeling from this act of violence. The incident also comes amid ongoing discussions in Germany regarding knife control laws. Interior Minister Nancy Faeser has recently proposed tightening restrictions, advocating for a reduction in the allowable blade length in public from 12 centimeters (4.7 inches) to 6 centimeters (2.4 inches) as part of broader efforts to enhance public safety.