A knife-wielding man attacked passers-by at the Solingen Festival in Germany, killing three people – one woman and two men. The Police announced that the injured are 8, of which four are in a serious condition.
The German authorities described the incident as a “terrorist act”, with the perpetrator – with “Arab features”, according to eyewitnesses quoted by the newspaper Bild – still evading arrest.
According to the German Diplomatic Police, which is responsible for diplomatic missions in the country, there are no Greek citizens among the victims.
At the time of the attack, there were thousands of people attending a concert in the Fronhof square in the center of Solingen.
The ongoing “Festival of Diversity” events, on the occasion of the 650th anniversary of the founding of the city, were estimated to be attended by at least 80,000 people during the three days.
BREAKING:
At least 3 stabbed to death at “diversity festival” in Solingen, Germany 🇩🇪
People are still receiving CPR treatment on the scene, but several bodies have also been covered with sheets.@BILD reports that eyewitnesses say an “Arab-looking man” started stabbing people pic.twitter.com/2443bpZZjR
— Visegrad 24 (@visegrad24) August 23, 2024
“Stay in your homes”
According to Chief Inspector of Police Sasha Kresta, the attacker did not choose the victims, but aimed his knife at their throats.
“We really want to arrest him. At the same time, forensic investigations and witness statements are ongoing,” Kresta said.
“We don’t want to believe what we see here at the crime scene. It’s sad. My thoughts are with the families of the victims and the injured. All we can do now is pray that the seriously injured will make it,” said North Rhine-Westphalia’s interior minister, Herbert Royle, during a joint press conference with Inspector Kresta in Düsseldorf.
BREAKING: At least 9 people stabbed at Festival of Diversity in Solingen, Germany. Reports of multiple fatalities – FOCUS pic.twitter.com/vS610XkBHc
— BNO News (@BNONews) August 23, 2024
The Police signaled a high alert, cordoned off the area and asked the residents of the city to remain in their homes while the perpetrator, who is being searched for with the help of helicopters, eludes capture.
According to the Solinger Tageblatt, the organizers announced that three people succumbed to their injuries and another nine are fighting for their lives, as they have been seriously injured.
#Germany #Terrorist #attack #festival #dead
