A deadly knife attack unfolded at the ‘Festival of Diversity’ in Solingen, Germany, on Friday, August 23, 2024, leaving three people dead and at least five others seriously injured. The incident occurred around 9:30 PM local time in the Fronhof square, where several music groups were performing as part of the city’s 650th anniversary celebrations.According to police spokesperson Alexander Kresta, multiple witnesses called the police to report a person attacking people with a knife. The attacker, described by some witnesses as having an Arab appearance, fled the scene ‘relatively quickly’ and remains at large.In response to the attack, authorities have launched a massive manhunt, deploying 40 agents and helicopter support to search for the perpetrator. Herbert Reul, the Interior Minister of North Rhine-Westphalia, visited the scene early Saturday and stated, ‘None of us knows why’ the attack occurred, emphasizing that the motive remains unclear.The festival, which was expected to attract around 80,000 visitors over the weekend, has been cancelled. Solingen’s Mayor Tim Kurzbach expressed his shock and grief on Facebook, saying, ‘Tonight we are all in shock in Solingen. We all wanted to celebrate together the anniversary of our city, and now we have dead and injured to mourn.’ Philipp Müller, one of the festival organizers, urged attendees to ‘please leave calmly and stay alert, as unfortunately the perpetrator has not been caught.’ The city authorities have asked people to leave the area and stay indoors.This incident comes just days after German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser announced plans to restrict the carrying of long knives in public, in response to a rise in knife attacks. As the investigation continues, authorities are appealing to the public for any information that could lead to the capture of the attacker.
Key points
- A knife attack at the ‘Festival of Diversity’ in Solingen, Germany, resulted in 3 deaths and at least 5 serious injuries.
- The attack occurred around 9:30 PM on August 23, 2024, in the Fronhof square during the city’s 650th anniversary celebrations.
- The perpetrator, described by some witnesses as having an Arab appearance, is still at large, prompting a massive manhunt.
- Authorities have cancelled the festival and urged residents to stay indoors while the investigation is ongoing.
Contradictions👾There are slight discrepancies in the reported number of injured, with some sources mentioning 4 injured, while others report 5 or more.
The exact number of critically injured also varies across reports.
