On Friday (23rd August local time) night, an unidentified man went on a stabbing spree during the ‘Festival of Diversity’ held in Fronhof market square in Solingen city of Germany. The incident coincided with the 650th anniversary of the town.
As per reports, the lone wolf attack took place at 10 pm on Friday, claimed the lives of 3 people and severely injured four others. The perpetrator has been on the run from the law enforcement authorities since the time of the incident.
🚨🚨BREAKING NOW:
— Europe Invasion (@EuropeInvasionn) August 23, 2024
An Arab immigrant stabbed 9 Germans at a festival in Solingen, Germany. Several deaths were reported.
A large number of police and helicopters were sent to the area. The criminal escaped. pic.twitter.com/QGzDjtxYO5
While speaking about the matter, Mayor of Solingen Tm-Oliver Kurzback stated, “It tears my heart apart that there was an attack on our city. I have tears in my eyes when I think of those we have lost. I pray for all those who are still fighting for their lives.”
Interior Minister of North Rhine-Westphalia state went to the crime scene and confirmed that it was a targeted attack on human life. The motive behind the attack remains unknown at the time of writing.
Updates from Solingen in Germany, 3 dead, 4 gravely hurt by "Arab looking man" at a "diversity festival".
— Tommy Robinson 🇬🇧 (@TRobinsonNewEra) August 23, 2024
But remember, you're far right, racist and deserve to be in jail if you have a negative view against having this imported into our lands. https://t.co/LXoXIn17wx pic.twitter.com/X47cJBLyNN
Following the incident, several police and emergency vehicles were dispatched to Fronhof market square. A helicopter was also deployed while the streets were cordoned off by the police.
Solingen is home to 1.6 lakh people and is situated near cities such as Cologne and Duesseldorf. This is however not the first time that Germany has witnessed knife attacks.
Earlier in May this year, an Islamist carried out a knife attack in Mannheim city. The attack injured two people including a police officer, who later succumbed to his injuries. The incident was captured during a YouTube live stream.
The extremist carried out the attack ahead of a political event against growing Islamism in Europe by an organisation named Citizens’ Movement Pax Europa (BPE).
A prominent critic of Islamism, Michael Stuerzenberger, was scheduled to attend the event. In the video, the Islamist was seen indiscriminately stabbing people. Onlookers tried to stop the knife rampage but it was in vain.
Dressed in dark blue joggers and white stripes, the extremist managed to get out of a stronghold and continued to attack random people. Forced by circumstances, another police officer swung into action and neutralised the Islamist.
#BREAKING #GERMANY
— LW World News 🌍 (@LoveWorld_Peopl) June 25, 2021
🔴 GERMANY, WURZBURG: KNIFE ATTACK
At least 2 dead, 6 injured, several seriously in a knife attack in Wurzburg, Germany and the aggressor arrested after being shot by the police in the leg.#BreakingNews #Flash #Würzburg #KnifeAttack #Video -Anabel pic.twitter.com/r0EiiQiCfN
In June 2021, a Somali Muslim immigrant named Abdirahman Jibril went on a stabbing spree, killing 3 people and injuring 7 others, in the Wurzburg city of Germany. The deadly attack took place in Barbarossa Square, which lies at the centre of the city.
An eyewitness informed that the accused shouted ‘Allah hu Akbar’ prior to attacking the victims.
Another eyewitness named Julia Runze informed, “He had a really big knife with him and was attacking people. Then many people tried to throw chairs or umbrellas or cellphones at him and stop him.” Abdirahman Jibril was arrested after the police fired a gunshot to his leg.
Owing to the surge in knife attacks, the German government is proposing to allow only knives up to 6 cm in public instead of 12 cm.
