Fatal Knife Attack at Solingen Festival
- Three people were killed and several others were injured in a knife attack at a festival in Solingen, Germany.
- A DJ at the festival continued playing music to avoid mass panic.
- The attacker has been detained following a large-scale manhunt.
A knife attack during the Festival of Diversity in Solingen, Germany, resulted in the deaths of three individuals and left eight others injured, five of them seriously. The incident occurred around 9:45 PM on Friday night, as thousands gathered to celebrate the city's 650th anniversary. DJ Topic, who was performing at the time, chose to continue his set to prevent mass panic, stating it was "incredibly hard" but necessary until the music stopped about 10 to 15 minutes later. Authorities are treating the attack as a potential terrorist incident, with police confirming that a manhunt is underway for the assailant, who fled the scene shortly after the stabbings. Interior Minister Nancy Faeser emphasized that security forces are working diligently to apprehend the suspect and investigate the motives behind the attack. A 15-year-old has been detained for allegedly failing to report the crime, but no further details have been disclosed. Witnesses described a chaotic scene as people were stabbed at random in the Fronhof market square, where live performances were taking place. Local officials expressed their shock and sorrow, with Mayor Tim Kurzbach stating, "We all wanted to celebrate our city's anniversary together and now we have to mourn the dead and injured." The festival, which was expected to attract around 80,000 attendees, has been marred by this tragic event, prompting calls for increased security measures in public spaces.