Special police units on Saturday actively searched for an unknown man who stabbed several people at a crowded festival in the western German city of Solingen, killing three and injuring at least eight, four of them seriously.
A 15-year-old boy was arrested early Saturday. Police suspect he knew about the planned attack but did not inform authorities. However, he was not the attacker.
Markus Caspers, from the counterterrorism section of the public prosecutors office, announced at a news conference on Saturday that they have not yet found the perpetrator.
“We have not found a motive so far, but considering the circumstances, we cannot rule out the possibility of terrorism,” said Caspers, although he did not provide further details.
Thorsten Fleiss from the German police, who was the chief of operations on Friday night, stated that they are conducting various searches and investigations throughout the entire state of North Rhine Westphalia, which will continue throughout the day.
He added that bringing together evidence and witness testimonies to create an overall picture is a “big challenge.”
The three victims were identified as two men aged 67 and 56, and a 56-year-old woman, according to authorities.
Police urged the public to remain vigilant while flowers were being laid at the scene. An online portal was set up for witnesses to upload footage and any other relevant information about the attack.
People reported the unknown attacker shortly after 9:30 p.m. Friday assaulting several individuals with a knife on the central square, the Fronhof. Police believe the stabbings were carried out by a lone attacker and did not disclose the victims’ identities.
Solingen’s mayor, Tim Kurzbach, expressed horror and grief about the incident and stated that the rest of the festival has been canceled.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz emphasized the need to swiftly capture the perpetrator and punish them with the full force of the law. He described the attack as a terrible event that deeply shocked him.
German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier also expressed condolences to the victims’ families and emphasized the importance of standing together against hatred and violence.
There have been concerns about an increase in knife violence in Germany, prompting Interior Minister Nancy Faeser to propose tougher weapons laws to restrict the carrying of knives with blades longer than six centimeters in public.
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