A 15-year-old was arrested Saturday in connection with a knife attack at a festival in Germany that left three people dead and eight hurt, authorities said.
The suspect has been on the run for hours following Friday’s bloodshed in Solingen — with police saying the teen was not the alleged attacker.
The 15-year-old is suspected of failing to report a crime after witnesses said the teen spoke to an unidentified person “about intentions that would match with the crime” shortly before the attack, senior public prosecutor Markus Caspers said in a press conference.
Authorities could not rule out a “terrorist” motive behind the attack, noting multiple knives were found, Police Chief Markus Röhrl said.
The attacker specifically targeted victims’ throats and necks, police spokesman Thorsten Fleiss said.
Three people — two men, aged 67 and 56, and a 56-year-old woman — were killed, police said.
Among the eight hurt, four are “very seriously injured” and in the hospital, police said.
The mayhem unfolded at around 9:30 p.m. in a central square of “Festival of Diversity,” an event marking the 650th anniversary of Solingen.
The attack occurred close to a stage during a musical act, according to police.
Organizers canceled the festival’s remaining lineup in response to the attack.
“This evening, we in Solingen are all in shock. We all wanted to celebrate our city’s anniversary together and now have dead and wounded to lament,” Mayor Tim Kurzbach said on Facebook.
“It breaks my heart that an attack on our city happened,” he added.
This is a developing story. Please check back for more updates.
