Knife attack in Solingen disrupts town's 650th anniversary celebration
Disturbing reports have emerged from western Germany. In the town of Solingen, a knife attack has taken place. A spokeswoman for the local police reported that three people were killed, and another four were seriously injured.
The knife-wielding attacker in Solingen targeted random people who were participating in celebrations for the town's 650th anniversary. German media have reported on the deceased and injured.
Three people were killed, and four were seriously injured in the knife attack in Solingen on Friday. The perpetrator remains at large, according to the spokeswoman for the police in Düsseldorf. The police are treating the incident as a terrorist attack, reports the dpa agency.
The police have cordoned off the market square, where thousands had gathered. Helicopters are circling above the town. There is no information yet on whether the attacker has been captured. According to the German daily "Bild", heavily armed SEK units with around 40 specialised vehicles from across North Rhine-Westphalia have been dispatched to Solingen.
The police have blocked the main roads and exit from the town, and residents have been advised to stay indoors and avoid the town centre.
The local newspaper "Solinger Tagblatt" reported that authorities have called on people to leave the centre of Solingen immediately, where a concert occurred on Fronhof Square. One of the festival’s organisers, Philipp Müller, informed the gathered audience from the stage that rescuers were fighting for the lives of nine people.
The festival celebrating Solingen’s 650th anniversary, which started on Friday and was supposed to last until Sunday, has been interrupted. Solingen has around 100,000 residents and is located near Cologne and Düsseldorf.
