Germany Three dead in knife attack at Solingen city festival
An attacker killed three people with a knife at the 650th anniversary celebrations of the city of Solingen on Friday evening.
According to the police, four other people were seriously injured. The perpetrator is on the run, a police spokeswoman said shortly after midnight in Düsseldorf. Police sources said that the case was no longer being classified as a rampage, but as an attack. The perpetrator had acted in a targeted manner.
The newspaper "Bild" reported that the attacker stabbed passers-by indiscriminately at around 9.45 pm. The police have issued a major alert. At least one helicopter is in the air, numerous emergency vehicles with flashing blue lights are on the road and the streets are cordoned off.
Officers are currently at the scene with weapons and are securing it. Numerous ambulances are on duty. There are barriers all over the city. Screens have been erected. The crime scene is the Fronhof - a market square in the center of Solingen.
According to the "Solinger Tageblatt" newspaper, the authorities have asked citizens to leave the city center. The festival has ended for the time being. Sirens can be heard around the city center. Thousands of visitors followed the request to leave the area calmly and not to panic. "People left the square in shock, but peacefully," reported Philipp Müller, one of the festival's co-organizers, according to the report.
A reporter from the "Solinger Tageblatt" described: "The atmosphere is spooky." Within a few minutes, the exuberant celebratory mood had turned to shock, with tearful visitors coming towards her.
Mayor speaks of assassination attempt
Solingen's Lord Mayor Tim Kurzbach reacted with shock. "Tonight, all of us in Solingen are in shock, horror and great sadness," the SPD politician wrote on the city's Facebook page. "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."
Federal Health Minister Karl Lauterbach wrote on Platform X: "I hope the rescue workers succeed in saving the injured who are still alive and the police succeed in catching the cowardly and pathetic perpetrator on the run."
To mark the 650th anniversary of the city of Solingen, a "Festival of Diversity" began on Friday. It was to last until Sunday. The announcement states: "Solingen Mitte will become a large festival mile: From Neumarkt to Fronhof to Mühlenplatz, there will be celebrations." In the streets, visitors can expect a program with music, cabaret, acrobatics, arts and crafts, entertainment for children and much more.
Faeser recently announced stricter gun laws
In view of the increase in knife attacks, Federal Minister of the Interior Nancy Faeser (SPD) had only recently announced a tightening of gun laws. Accordingly, knives with a blade length of up to six centimetres instead of the previous twelve centimetres will only be allowed to be carried in public. There is to be a general ban on handling dangerous switchblade knives.
In mid-June, a 27-year-old Afghan was shot dead by officers in Wolmirstedt in Saxony-Anhalt after first stabbing a 23-year-old and then allegedly injuring several people at a private European Championship garden party. In Mannheim, an Afghan injured five members of the Islam-critical Pax Europa movement and an officer with a knife on May 31. The police officer later died.
