Harrowing moment festival organizers tell crowd there is a knifeman on the run after three people were killed
Topics: Crime, Police, True crime, World News, Germany
Poppy Bilderbeck
Featured Image Credit: ITV News
Topics: Crime, Police, True crime, World News, Germany
Festival organizers were forced to warn crowds after a knifeman killed three people and injured eight others before going on the run.
Last night (23 August), the 'Festival of Diversity' took place in Solingen, in western Germany with thousands gathering in the centre in celebration of it being 650 years since the city was founded.
At around 9:30pm, police received reports from festivalgoers that 'an unknown person armed with a knife wounded several people at random,' the man killing three, leaving five people in critical condition and a further three injured too.
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A witness called Lars Breitzke told local outlet Solinger Tageblatt he was standing near a live-music stage when 'a meter away from [him], a person fell'.
Breitzke initially presumed the person must be drunk, however when he turned around, he saw multiple people on the floor and blood.
A clip emerged on social media of one of the festival's organizers, Philipp Müller, taking to a stage to inform people of the attack and to urge them to leave.
He can be heard saying: "Go calmly; please keep your eyes open, because unfortunately the perpetrator hasn't been caught."
Solingen Mayor Tim Kurzbach addressed the attack in a post to Facebook.
Kurzbach said: "Tonight all of us in Solingen are in shock, horror and great sadness. We all wanted to celebrate our city anniversary together and now we have to mourn the dead and injured.
"It breaks my heart that an attack has happened in our city. I have tears in my eyes when I think of those we've lost. I pray for all those still fighting for their lives.
"Also my greatest sympathy for all those who had to experience this, these images must have been horrific."
Interior minister of North Rhine-Westphalia state, Reul, said - as quoted by ITV News - 'none of us knows why' the attack took place. He continued: "I can't say anything about the motive now."
As of earlier today (24 August), the attacker remains on the loose.
In a statement, German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser stated: "We are deeply shocked by the brutal attack on the city festival in Solingen. Our security authorities are doing everything they can to catch the perpetrator and establish the background to the attack."
A police spokesperson added, as per The Guardian: "Both victims and witnesses are currently being questioned. The police are currently searching for the perpetrator with a large team."
"[...] Many witnesses are in a state of shock and are receiving care and giving their statements. We hope to receive information about the assailant, particularly his appearance, so that we can make the manhunt more targeted."
UNILAD has contacted Solingen police for comment.
A website has since been set up where members of the public can come forward with any potential information about the attacker.
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