A large-scale manhunt is currently underway in Germany following a deadly stabbing incident at a festival in Solingen, a city in the western part of the country. The attack, which occurred on Friday evening, resulted in the deaths of three people, and authorities have yet to identify the suspect.
Police reported that a 15-year-old boy was arrested on Saturday in connection with the attack, but clarified that he is not believed to be the perpetrator, who is described as a lone male. A second individual was also taken into custody after a police operation at a refugee center in Solingen, according to a later report by Reuters on Saturday. However, further details about this person or their involvement in the incident have not been disclosed by the authorities.
The victims of the attack have been identified as two men, aged 67 and 56, and a woman, aged 56. Additionally, eight other individuals were injured, four of whom are in critical condition.
The motive behind the attack, which has deeply shocked the nation, remains unclear, and the possibility of terrorism has not been ruled out. Although the Islamic State claimed responsibility for the incident, they provided no evidence to support their claim.
Thorsten Fleiß, a police spokesman, noted that the attacker appeared to specifically target the necks of the victims. “Based on our initial analysis of the images, we believe this was a deliberate attack focused on the neck,” he stated during a press conference.
An unidentified individual armed with a knife carried out a random attack on several people at a central square in the city of Solingen on Friday evening, approximately 25 kilometers (15 miles) east of Düsseldorf, according to police.
As of Saturday, the suspect remains at large, prompting the deployment of special forces in an active manhunt, police reported. During a press conference on Saturday, officers emphasized that "extensive search measures" are being implemented across the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia.
Residents of Solingen have been advised to exercise caution and stay vigilant.
Details about the perpetrator are still scarce. The police do not yet have a clear description of the suspect and are seeking additional information to assist in their search.
On Friday, crowds had gathered at the central square in Solingen to celebrate the "Festival of Diversity," a three-day event commemorating the 650th anniversary of the city's founding. The attack occurred near the stage where a musical act was performing, according to police.
Eyewitness Lars Breitzke, who was just meters away from the incident, recounted the events to the local newspaper, Solinger Tageblatt. He noticed something was amiss when he saw the expression on the face of the singer on stage. Moments later, he witnessed someone collapse just a few meters away from him.
German DJ Topic, who was performing nearby, shared on Instagram that he was asked to continue his performance to prevent mass panic. He later mentioned that he and others took shelter in a nearby store as police helicopters circled overhead.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz condemned the attack, stating, "The attack in Solingen is a terrible event that I find very upsetting," on X. "An assassin has brutally killed several people."
Germany’s Interior Minister Nancy Faeser assured the public that authorities were "doing everything they can to apprehend the perpetrator and determine the background to the attack."
Solingen’s Mayor, Tim Kurzbach, expressed his sorrow, stating, "This evening, all of us in Solingen are experiencing shock, horror, and great sadness." He added on the city’s Facebook page, "We all wanted to celebrate our city’s anniversary together, and now we have to mourn the dead and injured."
According to the festival’s website, Friday marked the beginning of the three-day “Festival of Diversity,” which was set to feature music, food, performances, and family-friendly entertainment.
The Bergisch Symphony Orchestra, which serves both Solingen and Remscheid, was scheduled to perform on the main stage that evening.
This attack took place against the backdrop of a growing concern over knife crime in Germany, which has seen a noticeable increase in recent years. In response, Interior Minister Nancy Faeser recently proposed stricter laws to address the issue.
Police data indicates that in 2023 alone, there were 8,951 incidents of knife crime resulting in serious bodily harm across Germany—an increase of 791 cases compared to the previous year.
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