3 dead, several wounded in knife attack on German festival

Kathmandu: Three people have been killed and four severely wounded in a knife attack at a festival in the western German city of Solingen.

Police said, with the search for the suspect dragging on into Saturday morning. A police spokeswoman in nearby Duesseldorf told AFP early Saturday that the ongoing manhunt extended beyond Solingen, and that numerous roadblocks had also been set up around the city.

So far, there was still no detailed description of the suspect, with police seeking information about the Friday night attack — including photos and videos — via an online portal, the spokeswoman said. In the immediate aftermath of the attack, there was a large police presence at the scene including special forces and a helicopter, according to an AFP photographer.

The attacker had “stabbed people indiscriminately with a knife”, the Bild Daily reported. The festival was part of a series of events to celebrate the city’s 650th birthday.

In a statement posted online, Tim-Oliver Kurzbach, the mayor of Solingen, said the whole city was in “shock, horror, and great grief”. ‘We all wanted to celebrate our town’s anniversary together and now we have to mourn the dead and injured,’ he said.

‘Brutal and senseless’ – Kurzbach thanked the emergency services for their work at the scene and expressed sympathy with those who had witnessed the attack.

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