At Least 3 Dead in 'Random' Knife Rampage at Festival Site... Chaos in the 'City of Knives'

During the 650th City Formation Festival Music Performance
Suspected Crime Weapon Knife...Perpetrator Escapes

At a festival held in Solingen, North Rhine-Westphalia, western Germany, a man wielding a weapon indiscriminately attacked people, resulting in at least three deaths and multiple injuries.

On the 23rd (local time), the German state-run dpa news agency, citing the local newspaper Bild, reported that around 9:45 p.m. that evening, a man launched a random attack on passersby, killing at least three people. Witnesses said the attacker fled immediately after the incident, and the suspect has not yet been apprehended. Police stated, "The attack involving a knife resulted in multiple fatalities and injuries," adding, "At least five people are seriously injured." However, the North Rhine-Westphalia authorities reported that the number of seriously injured is six. Earlier, the festival organizers said that emergency responders were fighting to save nine lives at the scene.

On the 23rd (local time), a stabbing rampage occurred in the city center of Solingen, North Rhine-Westphalia, western Germany, and the police are controlling the surrounding area.
[Photo by AFP Yonhap News]

The incident occurred at the market square in downtown Solingen, where a live music performance was taking place at the time. Solingen was holding a festival to celebrate the 650th anniversary of the city's founding, scheduled to continue until the 25th. Located near Cologne and D?sseldorf, Solingen has been famous for sword-making since medieval times and is nicknamed the "City of Blades." It is also the birthplace of the famous knife brand "Zwilling J.A. Henckels," known for its "twin blades." Solingen still houses several blade manufacturing facilities and blade museums exhibiting knives, scissors, and swords. The city has a population of about 160,000.

dpa reported that the police believe the weapon used by the perpetrator was a knife, and the police are currently conducting an investigation while controlling the surrounding area. Due to the weapon rampage, the festival was temporarily suspended, and downtown Solingen was filled with sirens and helicopter sounds. According to the local media Solinger Tageblatt, authorities urged residents to avoid the city center.

Tim-Oliver Kurzbach, mayor of Solingen, said, "The entire city is in shock, fear, and sorrow," adding, "We wanted to celebrate the city's anniversary together, but now we must mourn the dead and injured."

Meanwhile, in Germany, incidents involving random knife attacks have been occurring frequently recently. In January, a random knife attack happened on a train passing near Brockstedt station, resulting in two deaths and five injuries. Additionally, in June, a 29-year-old police officer was stabbed to death at a far-right protest site in Mannheim, western Germany.