Germany: Several killed in stabbing at Solingen street party

Three people were killed and five seriously injured in a knife attack in the western German city of Solingen on Friday. The police have launched a "major operation" to find the suspect, a police spokesperson said.

The suspect managed to escape in the turmoil and panic that initially spread after the crime, said a spokesperson.

According to media reports, a man stabbed passers-by at random with a knife at a festival celebrating the city's 650th anniversary.

The local newspaper Solinger Tageblatt reported that three people had been killed and others were in a life-threatening situation.

Philipp Müller, one of the festival co-organizers, said paramedics are fighting to save the lives of nine people.

In the wake of the attack, the city of Solingen has completely canceled its 650th anniversary celebrations.

The events scheduled for this Saturday and Sunday have also been canceled, the city announced Saturday night.

The incident took place at Fronhof, a marketplace in the center of the city, where a stage had been set up for live music. Police were alerted shortly after 9:30 p.m. (1930 GMT).

Authorities asked residents to leave the city center following the attack. Müller took to the stage and told festivalgoers to "go calmly; please keep your eyes open, because unfortunately the perpetrator hasn't been caught."

The police have issued a major alert and declared a manhunt. Armed officers were on the scene and had cordoned off large areas of the city. Barriers were also set up across the city.

According to the German daily Bild, heavily armed SEK units with about 40 special vehicles from all over North Rhine-Westphalia had been deployed to Solingen.