Three people were tragically killed and four others seriously wounded in a stabbing attack at a festival in Solingen, a city in western Germany, on Friday night. The incident occurred around 10 p.m. at the Fronhof, a market square where live bands were performing as part of celebrations for the town’s 650th anniversary.
Local police reported that a single, unidentified man attacked multiple people and remains at large. The motive behind the attack has yet to be determined, and the state’s interior minister, Herbert Reul, described it as a “targeted attack on human life” without speculating further.
Solingen Mayor Tim-Oliver Kurzbach expressed deep sorrow over the tragedy, stating, “It tears my heart apart that there was an attack on our city. I have tears in my eyes when I think of those we have lost. I pray for all those who are still fighting for their lives.”
Fatal stabbings and shootings are relatively rare in Germany, though recent incidents have prompted calls for stricter regulations on knives carried in public. In June, a policeman was fatally stabbed during a right-wing demonstration in Mannheim. Another stabbing incident occurred on a train in 2021, resulting in multiple injuries.
Solingen is located in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany’s most populous state, which borders the Netherlands. The ongoing investigation continues as authorities work to apprehend the suspect and ensure public safety.
