By V. E. K. Madhushani, Jadetimes News
Manhunt Underway After Deadly Knife Attack in Solingen Leaves Three Dead, Eight Injured
A massive manhunt is in progress after a brutal knife attack left three people dead and eight others injured during a festival in Solingen, a city in western Germany. The attack occurred on Friday evening in the city center, where five of the injured remain in critical condition, according to reports from German media.
Authorities are still searching for the attacker, who remains at large as of Saturday. National security forces have been deployed to assist in the manhunt. The police have not yet provided any details regarding the motive behind the attack.
Witnesses reported that the assailant randomly stabbed passers by as Solingen was celebrating its 650th anniversary. According to local media, the attacker targeted victims by deliberately stabbing them in the neck.
Germany's Chancellor Olaf Scholz called for the swift apprehension and full prosecution of the assailant. Interior Minister Nancy Faeser extended her condolences to the victims' families, assuring that security forces are doing everything possible to catch the perpetrator and uncover the motive behind the attack.
Solingen, a city in North Rhine Westphalia known for its steel industry, is home to around 160,000 residents. It is located approximately 25 km east of Düsseldorf and northeast of Cologne.
During a news conference early Saturday, regional Interior Minister Herbert Reul expressed deep sorrow over the incident. "You don't want to believe what you see here at the crime scene. It weighs heavily. My thoughts are with the relatives of the victims and the injured. We can only pray that the seriously injured will survive," Reul stated.
Following the attack, city authorities urged people to leave the Fronhof market area as police established security cordons. Emergency crews were seen treating the injured at the scene, while police deployed 40 tactical vehicles to aid in the search for the suspect, according to the German news outlet Bild. The vehicles are being operated by SEK (Special Task Force) officers, who have also blocked roads and advised residents to stay indoors.
Philipp Müller, one of the festival organizers, noted that despite the shock, attendees left the square peacefully after the attack. Eyewitness Lars Breitzke described the horrifying moment to the Solinger Tageblatt newspaper, recounting how he realized something was wrong when he saw a performer on stage with a strange expression, shortly before a person collapsed just a meter away from him.
Police spokesperson Alexander Kresta indicated that authorities believe the attack was carried out by a single individual, based on numerous eyewitness accounts. However, they have no current information regarding the suspect's location or appearance.
In a statement on Facebook, Solingen Mayor Tim Kurzbach expressed his grief over the tragedy: "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. My deepest sympathy also goes out to all those who had to witness this horrific event."
Speaking later on Friday, Solinger Tageblatt's deputy editor Björn Boch described the scale of the festival, which was expected to draw 25,000 people each night over three days. He estimated that "a few thousand people" were present during Friday's free event when the attack occurred.
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