Several people have been killed and others injured in a tragic knife attack that took place at a festival celebrating the 650th anniversary of the western German city of Solingen. The incident occurred on Friday, prompting a major alert and a manhunt by the police.

According to media reports, a man began randomly stabbing passers-by with a knife at the Fronhof marketplace, where a stage had been set up for live music as part of the city festival. The local newspaper Solinger Tageblatt has reported that three individuals have lost their lives in the attack, while several others are in a critical condition.

The co-organizer of the festival, Philipp Müller, disclosed that paramedics are urgently trying to save the lives of nine victims who sustained serious injuries. As a result of the incident, the festival was temporarily suspended, causing alarm among attendees and residents in the city center.

Authorities have called upon residents to evacuate the city center, while armed officers are on the scene, cordoning off large areas of Solingen. Sirens can be heard throughout downtown, and helicopters are hovering above the city. The police have issued a major alert and are actively searching for the attacker.

Solingen, with a population of around 160,000, is located in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia, near the more populous cities of Cologne and Düsseldorf. The motive behind the knife attack remains unknown at this time.

This breaking news story has been developing rapidly, and further updates will follow as law enforcement continues their investigation into this tragic incident.