- Surrounding municipalities halt festivities following Solinger's assault
After the tragic stabbing incident at a city celebration in Solingen, events scheduled for this weekend in Hilden and Haan have been unexpectedly called off. Alongside deep sadness and sympathy for the victims in Solingen, the safety aspect is also a concern.
The Festival of Cultures in Hilden was supposed to celebrate diversity, as stated by Mayor Claus Pommer. However, due to safety concerns and sympathy for the residents of the adjacent city, they chose to cancel the event. "The chilling occurrence in Solingen makes it impossible for us to gather and rejoice mere hours after."
Mayor Bettina Warnecke of Haan shared the sorrow, expressing, "We keep the families of the deceased in our thoughts and prayers, while also hoping for the speedy recovery of those still battling for their lives." The Haan wine festival for Saturday and Sunday has been cancelled. "We cannot celebrate when our neighboring city is grieving, less than a few kilometers away." She also mentioned that the perpetrator remains at large and the situation's clarity is uncertain.
Following the stabbing incident during Solingen's 650th anniversary celebration on Friday night, the assailant managed to evade capture. "Currently, authorities are conducting an extensive search for the suspect," it was reported.
The cancellation of the City festival in Haan was also a show of solidarity with Solingen, as stated by Mayor Bettina Warnecke. The scheduled City festival in Hilden, similar to the one in Haan, was also postponed due to the tragic incident.
