It was terrorism, said the Prime Minister of the province. The police are still looking for the attacker from Solingen

“The aim of this attack was to spread terror,” Wüst said, adding that the act was directed “against the security and freedom of our country and also the way we live here. He said that Germany was “struck in the heart” by the attack.

“We will not be intimidated by terror and hatred, we will protect our way of life.” she said then the German media from Wüst’s Saturday statement. Together with him, the Federal Minister of the Interior Nancy Faeserová (SPD) commented on the bloodshed.

“We will not allow such a terrible attack to divide society,” she said. Society must “stick together” in these difficult times.

According to Bild newspaper, several witnesses described the assailant as a man of Arab appearance, but police have not yet released his identity or appearance, saying the descriptions differ. So far, only a fifteen-year-old youth has been arrested, who is suspected of knowing about the attack in advance and not reporting it. The arrested teenager is a Kyrgyz who was living in a local refugee center, Der Spiegel magazine website wrote.

The attack happened around 21:40 in the city, which has about 160,000 inhabitants. Five people are injured in a serious condition. The city is currently celebrating its 650th anniversary. Another part of the event known as the Celebration of Diversity this weekend has been canceled by the authorities.

The person who committed the crime was stabbing people in the neck. “The attacker was harassing people at random. There is an intensive search for the attacker and a large number of police officers are being deployed to find him,” said Wuppertal police spokesman Sascha Kresta. He said police believe the man acted alone.