Multiple people were killed and several others were injured in a knife attack Friday at a festival in the western German city of Solingen, German police said. Dusseldorf police spokeswoman Anja Kynast told CBS News that at least three people were killed and four others were injured in the attack. Solingen is about 18 miles from Dusseldorf.
According to local newspaper Solinger Tageblatt, authorities had called on people to leave the centre of Solingen and one of the festival organisers, Philipp Müller, said on stage that emergency services were fighting for the lives of nine people.
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In a social media post, Solingen Mayor Tim Kurzbach wrote that the city was “in shock, fear and great sadness. We all wanted to celebrate our city anniversary together and now we have to mourn the dead and injured.”
German news agency dpa cited unidentified police sources as saying the weapon was likely a knife and that no one had been arrested. The attack took place in a central square, the Fronhof.
The festival celebrating the city’s 650th anniversary began on Friday and was scheduled to last through Sunday.
Solingen has approximately 160,000 inhabitants.
This is a breaking news story. Check back for updates.
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