Solingen — Three people have been killed, and another eight seriously injured in a brutal knife attack during a festival in the western German city of Solingen. The incident, which took place on Friday evening, has left the city in shock as the attacker remains at large.

The attack occurred at around 10:00 p.m. local time (2000 GMT) during a festival in the city center, celebrating Solingen’s 650th anniversary. According to reports from German media outlet *Bild*, a man randomly targeted passers-by, stabbing them in the neck in what police have described as a deliberate attack. A massive manhunt is now underway, with police helicopters seen hovering above the city as authorities search for the suspect.

The industrial city, known for its steel industry, was in the midst of a three-day celebration, expecting to attract 25,000 people each night. On Friday, the Fronhof market area was packed with thousands of festival-goers when the attack took place. The city authorities quickly asked people to leave the area, and police set up security cordons while emergency crews treated the injured.

Eyewitnesses described the horrifying scene as the attack unfolded. Lars Breitzke, who was attending the festival, told the *Solinger Tageblatt* newspaper that he realized something was wrong when he saw a singer on stage with a strange expression on their face. “And then a person fell over just a meter away from me,” he recounted.

Philipp Müller, one of the festival organizers, described the emergency crews' frantic efforts to save lives, telling the *Solinger Tageblatt* that they were fighting for the lives of nine people. “People are shocked, but left the square peacefully,” Müller added.

In response to the attack, police deployed 40 tactical vehicles, commanded by SEK (Special Task Force) officers, to search for the suspect. Roads have been blocked, and residents have been urged to stay indoors as the search continues. Police spokesperson Alexander Kresta told German media, “We are currently assuming that it was one person” after interviewing numerous eyewitnesses. However, authorities have not yet located the suspect, nor do they have detailed information about his appearance.

In a heartfelt Facebook statement, Solingen Mayor Tim Kurzbach expressed his deep sorrow and horror at the attack. “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.”

The German government has recently been pushing to toughen regulations on knives carried in public, reducing the allowed blade length. While fatal stabbings and shootings are relatively uncommon in Germany, this incident follows a series of recent attacks that have raised concerns. In June, a 29-year-old policeman was fatally stabbed in Mannheim during an attack on a right-wing demonstration, and in 2021, several people were injured in a stabbing on a train.

Herbert Reul, the Interior Minister of North Rhine-Westphalia, the state where Solingen is located, visited the scene and described the attack as a targeted assault on human life. However, he declined to speculate on the motive behind the attack. The celebrations, which were supposed to last for three days, have now been canceled.

As Solingen mourns the loss of life and grapples with the aftermath of this tragedy, the hunt for the attacker continues, leaving the city on edge and hoping for swift justice.