In Solingen, Germany, a knife-wielding attacker killed three people and injured at least five others at a festival in the city, authorities confirmed.
Police were alerted to the incident at the Fronhof square around 9:30 p.m. where multiple people were stabbed by an unidentified assailant. The attacker fled the scene, leaving authorities with limited information about him.
Authorities believe the stabbings were carried out by a lone attacker. Festival organizer Philipp Müller urged attendees to remain calm and vigilant as the perpetrator was still at large.
Several emergency vehicles and law enforcement personnel responded to the scene, with at least five people reported to be seriously injured. Herbert Reul, the state’s interior minister, visited the site and confirmed six serious injuries.
The motive for the attack remains unclear, with Mayor Tim Kurzbach expressing shock and sorrow over the tragic events. The city had been celebrating its 650th anniversary with the “Festival of Diversity,” which was abruptly canceled following the attack.
Witnesses described a sudden shift from a festive atmosphere to one of fear and sorrow, with festivalgoers in disbelief over the violence that unfolded. Solingen, a city of 160,000 residents located near Cologne and Duesseldorf, is now mourning the loss of life and the injuries sustained during the attack.
