Solingen, Germany: Police search for triple murderer

SOLINGEN, Germany — A large-scale search operation was launched Saturday in the western German city of Solingen after a knife attack at a folk festival left three people dead and at least eight others injured, five of them seriously.

“The police are currently conducting a large-scale manhunt for the perpetrator,” the police said in a statement. They have assembled a large contingent of officers around Solingen city center, including special units. “Both victims and witnesses are currently being questioned,” they said.

The police have also set up an online portal where witnesses can upload relevant information about the attack.

Shortly after 9:30 p.m. on Friday, the police were alerted because an unknown attacker had injured several people with a knife at the Fronhof. The police reported that the perpetrator was on the run and that they had very little information about the attacker so far.

They said they believe the stabbings were carried out by a lone perpetrator and did not provide any information about the identities of the victims.

The “Festival of Diversity” to mark the city's 650th anniversary began on Friday and was scheduled to run until Sunday. Attractions such as live music, cabaret and acrobatics were to be offered on several stages in the central streets.

One of the festival organizers, Philipp Müller, appeared on stage on Friday and asked festival-goers to “stay calm and please keep your eyes open, because unfortunately the perpetrator has not yet been caught.” Solingen has about 160,000 inhabitants and is located near the larger cities of Cologne and Düsseldorf.

Chancellor Olaf Scholz said on Saturday that the perpetrator must be caught quickly and punished to the fullest extent of the law.

“The attack in Solingen is a terrible event that has shocked me deeply. An attacker brutally killed several people. I have just spoken to Solingen's mayor, Tim Kurzbach. We mourn the victims and support their families,” Scholz said on X.

Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier also spoke with the mayor of Solingen on Saturday morning.

“The heinous act in Solingen shocks me and our country. We mourn the dead and worry about the injured. I wish them strength and a speedy recovery from the bottom of my heart,” Steinmeier said in a statement on Saturday.

“The perpetrator must be brought to justice. Let us stand together against hatred and violence.”

There are fears of an increase in knife violence in Germany and Interior Minister Nancy Faeser recently proposed tightening the gun laws. In future, carrying knives in public will only be permitted if the blade is up to six centimetres long. Currently, only 12 centimetres is permitted.