Bild newspaper reported that several people were killed in a knife attack at a festival in the western German city of Solingen this Friday night. German press reported that a man randomly stabbed passers-by at around 9:45pm local time (8:45pm in Lisbon).
At least three people died and four were seriously injured, according to a Düsseldorf police spokesman quoted by Deutsche Welle.
According to one of the event organizers on German radio, paramedics were “trying to save the lives of nine people” at the site.
As the accused has escaped, the police are on a manhunt.
The attack took place in the Fraunhof square during a celebration of Solingen’s 650th anniversary. The program has been temporarily suspended.
A helicopter is flying over the area of the attack and sirens are being heard in the area, Deutsche Welle reported.
A witness told the local newspaper ‘Solinger Tageblatt’ that while he was watching the concert, he noticed a change in the musician’s expression on stage, indicating that something was wrong.
“That’s when one fell a meter away from me,” explained Lars Preitzke. At first, he thought the person in question was drunk, but when he turned around, he saw others lying on the ground in a pool of blood.
According to Deutsche Welle, people have been asked to leave the area and armed officers are patrolling the area. Security arrangements have been made in various parts of the city.
Bild reports that several police units from across the state of North Rhine-Westphalia were sent to the city, backed by 40 special vehicles.
Road junctions were closed to traffic and residents were asked to stay at home and avoid the city centre.
Solingen’s burgomaster, Tim Kurzbach, said people were “in shock, horrified and very sad”. “We all wanted to celebrate our city’s anniversary together, and now we have to mourn the dead and injured,” he lamented, according to a post published on the municipality’s Facebook page.
“Hardcore explorer. Extreme communicator. Professional writer. General music practitioner. Prone to fits of apathy.”