"Stabbed at necks"

Knife attack in Solingen: Apparently several dead

The German city of Solingen was the scene of a bloody knife attack on Friday evening during its anniversary celebrations.

(Bild: AFP)

Horrific scenes at a city festival in Solingen (North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany): An attacker is said to have killed at least three people and seriously injured five others. The murder weapon was a knife, which the perpetrator aimed at the neck area of his victims.

According to the "Bild" newspaper, the attack is said to have started at around 9.45 pm. The suspect looked "Arab" and was on the run. He had previously "stabbed people indiscriminately", according to initial information.

The reports became more concrete on Saturday night: The man is said to have deliberately stabbed his victims' necks with the knife. The act is being classified as a terrorist attack and not a rampage.

Perpetrator disappeared in the commotion
"We currently have no indication of his whereabouts," said a police spokesman about the manhunt at around 1 am. He had managed to escape in the turmoil and the panic that initially spread after the crime.

Residents should not leave their homes
The police are on a large-scale operation with helicopters, it was reported. The newspaper "Bild" wrote of heavily armed SEK units with around 40 special vehicles that had been brought in from all over the state. Residents were asked to stay in their homes.

Three people reportedly dead so far
According to regional reports, dozens of rescue workers fought to save people's lives and victims were resuscitated. However, three people are said to have died. The dead are still at the scene.

Armed officers stood at the scene and secured it. There were barriers throughout the city. Screens were erected.

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.

Oberbürgermeister Solingens, Tim Kurzbach

I hope the emergency services are able to save the injured who are still alive and the police are able to catch the cowardly and pathetic perpetrator on the run.

Der deutsche Gesundheitsminister Karl Lauterbach

The attacker stabbed people indiscriminately with a knife. That is why we are currently assuming an attack. (...) We are searching for the attacker with a large contingent, we are determined to arrest the perpetrator.

Hauptkommissar Sascha Kresta, Sprecher der Polizei Wuppertal

The crime scene was the Fronhof, a market square in the city center. There was a stage for live music, reported the dpa. A temporary situation center for the emergency services had been set up in a café.

Videos of the scene of the incident were circulating on X:

The city of Solingen responded on Facebook:

"Festival of diversity"
The city festival took place on Friday evening in Solingen under the motto "Festival of Diversity" of all things. The city in the administrative district of Düsseldorf wanted to celebrate its 650th birthday in this way. 80,000 spectators were expected over a total of three days.

"People shocked, but peaceful"
According to the Solinger Tageblatt, thousands of visitors complied with the request to leave the festival site calmly and not to panic. "People were shocked but left the square peacefully," reported one of the organizers.

German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser (SPD) had only recently announced a tightening of gun laws in view of the increase in knife attacks - the length of blades was to be restricted.

However, she said that monitoring such a ban would be enormously time-consuming and would also require a lot of manpower. However, the proposals did not go far enough for the German police unions anyway. They called for a general ban on knives.