Berlin, Aug 23 (EFE).- A knife attack at a party to celebrate the 650th anniversary of the city of Solingen (western Germany) has left At least three dead and an as yet unspecified number of injuredaccording to police data.
The police have described the attack as an “attack” and have deployed a large operation with numerous armed agents, special vehicles and the support of helicopters to search for the person responsible, about whom no description has been provided although according to some media there are witnesses who speak of a man of “Arab appearance”.
“That’s one of our problems, we don’t have enough data on him.”police spokesman Alexander Kresta told the private channel NTV.
Police assume that the man is a lone man and have no information about any possible accomplices.
According to police, the man managed to escape in the panic after stabbing several people in the neck.
Festival
The incident occurred during a concert that was part of the festival and was interrupted to ask people to leave the city centre.
“I don’t want to cause panic, please stay calm. But we have a knife attack with several people injured, we have to stop the festival. Please go home slowly.”said one of the festival’s directors, Phillip Müller.
The festival had to be suspended and people were asked to avoid the city centre and stay at home.
“We are all in shock in Solingen. We wanted to celebrate the anniversary of our city and now we have to mourn the dead and grieve for the injured. I have tears in my eyes and a broken heart. I think of those who have died and pray for those who are still fighting for their lives,” said Solingen Mayor Tim Kurzbach on Facebook.
According to the organizers, There are still nine people in danger of death. Police are reporting five serious injuries.
Duel
The state premier of North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW), Hendrik Wüst, said on his X account that the entire state is now united in a feeling of dismay and mourning.
“This is a brutal and senseless act of violence that has struck us in the heart.”said.
The Interior Minister of North Rhine-Westphalia, Herbert Reul, has travelled to Solingen. “One wishes that what we are seeing here were not true. I am thinking of the relatives of the victims and the injured. We can only hope that the seriously injured will be saved,” he said.
At least 80,000 visitors were expected to attend the 650th anniversary of Solingen over the weekend. The festival was to continue until Sunday with various concerts and shows.
The attack came just days after Interior Minister Nancy Faeser announced plans to restrict the carrying of long knives in public.
According to police statistics, 9,000 cases of knife injuries were recorded in Germany last year. EFE
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