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**Germany Hunts Perpetrator of Massacre: Scholz Calls for Swift Arrest and Prosecution**
Police spokesperson Alexander Krysta told the newspaper “Bild” that “the attacker randomly stabbed people with a knife.”
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz confirmed on Saturday that the perpetrator of the stabbing incident in the city of Solingen must be arrested and punished as quickly as possible.
Three people were killed and five others seriously injured in a knife attack that took place on Friday evening during a festival in Solingen, western Germany, according to police reports, which also indicated that the suspect had fled.
A large-scale operation is currently underway to locate the suspect, after large areas near the crime scene were cordoned off, according to a spokesperson for the Düsseldorf police, who spoke to Agence France-Presse.
The attack occurred in the Froonhof Market Square, where people had gathered to listen to musical performances during a celebration marking the 650th anniversary of the founding of the city of Solingen, located in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia, near the Dutch border.
Police were deployed at the scene, supported by emergency vehicles, and asked citizens to avoid the area, according to the station “ZDF.”
Police spokesperson Alexander Krysta told the newspaper “Bild” that “the attacker randomly stabbed people with a knife.”
A photographer from Agence France-Presse reported that police officers who were deployed at the scene late Friday were working with the help of special forces. She noted that a helicopter was also involved in the operations.
A police spokesperson in Düsseldorf told Agence France-Presse early Saturday that the ongoing manhunt for the suspect had extended beyond Solingen, with several roadblocks being set up.
The spokesperson announced that there is currently no detailed description of the suspect, adding that the police are seeking information about the attack that took place Friday night, including any photos and videos.
The police confirmed that the attacker specifically targeted the victims’ necks with the stabbings, noting that they cannot provide more details about the attack or determine the motive at this time.
Mayor Tim-Oliver Kurzbach wrote on the city’s website, “Tonight we are all in a state of shock, horror, and deep sadness in Solingen,” adding, “We all wanted to celebrate our city’s anniversary together, and now we have dead and injured people we deeply regret.”
He continued, “My heart breaks for the attack that occurred in our city. My eyes fill with tears as I think of those we have lost. I pray for all those who continue to fight for their lives.”
Kurzbach thanked the emergency services for their work at the scene, expressing his sympathy for those who witnessed the attack.
Solingen, with a population of over 150,000, is located near Düsseldorf, north of Cologne.
Crowds gathered in the city on Friday evening for the first day of the “Festival of Diversity,” which was scheduled to last three days until Sunday, according to the event’s website.
The festival was supposed to feature musical, theatrical, and other performances involving comedians, with expectations of up to 75,000 visitors over the three days.
However, the organizers announced that the celebrations in Solingen had been canceled due to the attack.
The local newspaper “Solinger Tageblatt” reported that shortly after 10:00 PM (8:00 PM GMT), one of the organizers took to the stage to interrupt the concert, which had started Friday evening with a light show accompanied by musical performances in a square in the city center.
The organizer said that paramedics were trying to save the lives of several people. Thousands of visitors responded to his call to leave the area calmly, according to the newspaper.
**Pools of Blood**
The newspaper quoted organizer Philipp Müller as saying, “People left the square in shock but calmly.”
An eyewitness also told the newspaper that he was only a few meters away from the attack, not far from the concert stage, and that he “understood from the singer’s facial expression that something was wrong.”
The witness, Lars Britzk, added, “Then, someone fell just one meter away from me.” He recounted that he initially thought it was someone intoxicated, but when he turned around, he saw other people lying on the ground and noticed pools of blood.
German authorities have remained on high alert in recent years in response to a dual terrorist threat posed by Islamist militants and right-wing extremists.
The deadliest attack on German soil to date occurred in December 2016, when 12 people were killed after a truck plowed through a Christmas market in central Berlin. The attack was claimed by the Islamic State group.
In late May, a knife attack in the city of Mannheim (west) targeted an anti-Islam gathering, resulting in the death of a police officer and the injury of five others.
On March 19, two Afghan gunmen were arrested in Thuringia, eastern Germany, on suspicion of planning an attack.
In late December 2023, three men were arrested on suspicion of planning to carry out an attack with a “vehicle” on New Year’s Eve against Cologne Cathedral (west).
Another significant threat facing the country is from right-wing extremism, which has resulted in several deadly attacks in recent years.
–by/radwa sherif ✏️✏️📚