Three people killed and eight injured after stabbing attack at festival in Germany

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Police said that the perpetrator was on the run, according to German news agency dpa, after the incident on a central square, the Fronhof, at around 2145 local time. open image in gallery German news agency dpa cited unidentified police sources as saying the weapon was believed to be a knife and no arrests had yet been made At least one helicopter was seen in the air, while the streets were filled with police and emergency vehicles with flashing blue lights and several roads were closed off. open image in gallery A man stabbed passers-by at random with a knife in the western German city of Solingen on Friday night, the newspaper Bild reports Local mayor Tim Kurzbach said in a Facebook post: “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.” He added: “It breaks my heart that an attack on our city happened.” The Festival of Diversity, marking the city's 650th anniversary, began on Friday and was supposed to run through until Sunday, with several stages in central streets offering attractions such as live music, cabaret and acrobatics.