One day after the attack at the city festival in Solingen, the shock is deep. Shortly before 22:00, a man stabbed visitors at random with a knife. It has now become known: it concerns a woman and two men who come from Solingen and Düsseldorf. There is still no trace of the perpetrator; the police are urgently looking for witnesses.
The perpetrator – according to witness statements an Arab-looking man – specifically stabbed his victim in the neck during the attack. In addition to the three fatalities, eight other people were injured. Five of them seriously, the police in the capital of the state of North Rhine-Westphalia, Düsseldorf, announced in a press release on Saturday morning.
The attack took place in front of the stage
According to “Bild”, the attacker struck right in front of the stage that had been set up on Fronhof, a square in the centre of Solingen. It was specially set up for the city festival so that live bands could perform. It was the 650th anniversary of Solingen’s city – under the motto ‘Festival of Diversity’.
The perpetrator was eventually able to hide in the crowd during the commotion. “There is a big search for the attacker, we absolutely want to arrest the perpetrator. But at the same time, there are also investigations, forensic investigations and witness interviews going on,” explains Chief Inspector Sascha Kresta, spokesperson for the Wuppertal police.
Police are asking for photos and videos
A search is now underway for witnesses who observed, especially after the attack where the perpetrator may have fled and whether he used a bicycle or car as a getaway vehicle. Visitors who took photos or mobile videos in the evening are asked to upload them to an information portal on the internet.
Here, police are asking for photos and videos from the crime scene:
After the attack, the city festival came to an abrupt end and a police helicopter circled above the cordoned off area. Intersections were also closed off by the emergency services. Residents of the city were urged to stay in their homes and avoid the city centre. The police set up an improvised situation centre in a café.
Despite the shocking incident, no panic broke out: thousands of festival-goers left the square without panic. “People are shocked, but they left the square peacefully,” explains one of the co-organizers, Philipp Müller. The city expected around 80,000 visitors for the three-day festival.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
