Festival organizers issued a warning to attendees after a knifeman killed three individuals and injured eight others before fleeing the scene.
The ‘Festival of Diversity’ was held last night (23 August) in Solingen, western Germany, attracting thousands to the city center to celebrate the 650th anniversary of the city’s founding.
Around 9:30pm, police began receiving calls from attendees reporting that “an unknown person armed with a knife wounded several people at random.” The attacker killed three people, left five in critical condition, and injured three more.
Lars Breitzke, a witness, told local outlet Solinger Tageblatt that he was standing near a live music stage when “a meter away from [him], a person fell.”
Breitzke initially thought the person was intoxicated, but upon turning around, he saw multiple people on the ground and blood.
A video surfaced on social media showing one of the festival’s organizers, Philipp Müller, addressing the crowd from a stage to inform them of the attack and advise them to leave.
He can be heard saying: “Go calmly; please keep your eyes open, because unfortunately the perpetrator hasn’t been caught.”
Solingen Mayor Tim Kurzbach commented on the attack in a Facebook post.
Kurzbach stated: “Tonight all of us in Solingen are in shock, horror and great sadness. We all wanted to celebrate our city anniversary together and now we have to mourn the dead and injured.
“It breaks my heart that an attack has happened in our city. I have tears in my eyes when I think of those we’ve lost. I pray for all those still fighting for their lives.
“Also my greatest sympathy for all those who had to experience this, these images must have been horrific.”
North Rhine-Westphalia state Interior Minister, Reul, commented – as quoted by ITV News – “none of us knows why” the attack occurred. He added: “I can’t say anything about the motive now.”
As of this morning (24 August), the attacker remains at large.
German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser released a statement saying: “We are deeply shocked by the brutal attack on the city festival in Solingen. Our security authorities are doing everything they can to catch the perpetrator and establish the background to the attack.”
A police spokesperson informed The Guardian: “Both victims and witnesses are currently being questioned. The police are currently searching for the perpetrator with a large team.”
“[…] Many witnesses are in a state of shock and are receiving care and giving their statements. We hope to receive information about the assailant, particularly his appearance, so that we can make the manhunt more targeted.”
A website has been created for the public to share any potential information regarding the attacker.
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