German police are urgently hunting an unknown suspect who fled the city of Solingen after three people were killed and eight seriously injured in a knife attack Friday evening.
The BBC reports that the attacker struck during celebrations to mark the 650th anniversary of the city’s foundation in western Germany. The motive for the attack is not yet clear.
The city’s mayor Tim Kurzbach has written on social media this morning, expressing his shock over the incident, writing: “We mourn the victims and stand by their families.
“The perpetrator must be caught quickly and punished to the full extent of the law.”
He added that those who attended the event were in a state of “shock, horror and great grief.”
The attack happened at the Fronhof – a market square in Solingen – where live bands were playing.
One DJ, named Topic, wrote on Instagram that he was performing at a nearby stage when the attack took place.
He wrote that security personnel asked him to keep playing to avoid causing wider panic:
“So I kept playing. Even though it was incredibly hard.
“After about 10-15 minutes, the music was finally stopped, and the people were informed about the incident.”
