Posted on 08/24/2024 9:58:48 AM PDT by Red Badger
A massive search is underway for an unknown man who killed three people and wounded at least eight in a knife attack at a festival in Solingen, Germany.
Markus Caspers, from the counterterrorism section of the public prosecutor's office, said in a news conference Saturday that authorities have not found the perpetrator, but a 15-year-old boy who police believe knew about the planned attack was arrested earlier in the day.
Officials said that they are not ruling out the possibility of terrorism as the motive behind the attack. Police believe a lone attacker was responsible.
After the knife attack at the Solingen city festival
"So far we have not been able to identify a motive, but looking at the overall circumstances," Caspers said.
Thorsten Fleiss from the German police, who was the chief of operations on Friday night, said that police are conducting various searches and investigations throughout the state of North Rhine Westphalia. The searches will continue throughout the day, he said. Authorities have also established an online portal where witnesses can upload footage and other information relevant to the attack.
Fleiss said that it is a "big challenge" to bring together available evidence and testimony from witnesses.
Authorities have described the three people killed as a 67-year-old man, a 56-year-old man, and a 56-year-old woman. No further information about their identities has been shared. Of the eight people wounded, four were seriously injured, officials said.
Multiple people killed in stabbing attack during festival in German city
In a social media post, Solingen Mayor Tim Kurzbach wrote that the city was "in shock, fright and great sadness. We all wanted to celebrate our city anniversary together and now we have to mourn the dead and injured."
Crowded festival turns to chaos Solingen is located roughly 18 miles from Düsseldorf and is home to about 160,000 people. On Friday, the city was marking its 650th anniversary with the "Festival of Diversity." It was supposed to run through Sunday, with several stages in central streets offering attractions such as live music, cabaret and acrobatics.
The attack took place amid the crowd in front of one stage. Shortly after 9:30 p.m., people alerted police to the presence of an attacker who had wounded several people with a knife.
Solingen Knife Assailant Still At Large Following Deadly Attack
One of the festival organizers, Philipp Müller, appeared on stage on Friday and asked festivalgoers to "go calmly; please keep your eyes open, because unfortunately the perpetrator hasn't been caught."
Hours after the attack, the stage lights were still on as police and forensic investigators looked for clues in the cordoned-off square.
Well-wishers established an impromptu memorial, leaving flowers and candles at the scene. Police have warned people to stay vigilant.
Solingen Knife Assailant Still At Large Following Deadly Attack
Authorities call for justice after "heinous" attack
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said on Saturday that the perpetrator of the attack must be caught quickly and punished with the full force of the law.
"The attack in Solingen is a terrible event that has shocked me greatly. ... We mourn the victims and stand by their families," Scholz said on X.
German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier also spoke to the mayor of Solingen on Saturday morning.
Solingen Knife Assailant Still At Large Following Deadly Attack
"The heinous act in Solingen shocks me and our country. We mourn those killed and worry about those injured and I wish them strength and a speedy recovery from all my heart," Steinmeier said in a statement on Saturday. "The perpetrator needs to be brought to justice. Let's stand together — against hatred and violence."
Germany's top security official, Interior Minister Nancy Faeser, recently proposed toughening weapons laws to allow only knives with a blade measuring up to about 2.4 inches, to be carried in public, rather than the currently-allowed length of 5 inches.
Anna Noryskiewicz contributed to this report.
CAN'T POST GETTY IMAGES........................
Every Muslim is a moderate until the instant he is not.
Q. When will the West wake up to this fact?
A. Never. If 9/11 didn’t do it, nothing will.
They are getting to experience the diversity they’ve always longed for. Don’t know if they’ll ever tire of it.
Don’t rule out terrorism? This is typical Democrat-Communist rhetoric. What else pray tell could have been the motive for such an attack? Apprehend the SOB, and hang him at the site of his unprovoked attack upon those innocent people. And quit with the girlie crap!
Three people died and they show a memorial with candles around an LGBTQ rainbow flag.
They were are Queer, in some way?
It was a “DIVERSITY FESTIVAL”................
Don’t rule it out.
Don’t care if it is.
What, no teddy bears?
Coverage from Deutsche Welle....
https://www.dw.com/en/germany-police-hunt-killer-after-solingen-stabbings/live-70038019
May the leftists in the EU experience 10X the “diversity”.
Stupid response. An ice pick or screwdriver could do just as much damage as a 5 inch blade. A sharpened, fire hardened wooden stake is just as deady and let's not forget the hammers used recently either.
The weapon is never the issue, the issue is who is wielding the weapon.
No description of the perpetrator. I guess they don’t him to be found too quickly.
Not only in Europe, but all over the world. Let the neomarxist kakistocrats of our time have a generous taste of their own medicine.
Amen.
It’s not terrorism.
It’s diversity. Isn’t that what the “festival” was meant to celebrate? Why is this a problem?
What about pointed sticks?
Germany’s top security official, Interior Minister Nancy Faeser, recently proposed toughening weapons laws to allow only knives with a blade measuring up to about 2.4 inches, to be carried in public, rather than the currently-allowed length of 5 inches.
Hmm.. how long is a box cutter again?
Stupid, short-sighted action.
Every Muslim is a moderate until the instant he is not.
____________________________________
Reminds me of this old saying.
An extremist Muslim wants to kill you.
A moderate Muslim wants an extremist Muslim to kill you.
Kneejerk reaction. Nothing better to be expected from that disgusting commie cow.🤢
I’m going to count it as progress that they didn’t immediately rule out terrorism.
Yes; Thanks for the link. Lots of sources commenting and lots of resources tied up. Condolences to families and friends of the innocent victims.
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