German police detain suspect in connection with fatal festival stabbing attack

German police say they have detained a person and are investigating whether there is a connection between them and a knife attack in the western German city of Solingen late last night that killed three and injured others.

Police have launched a “major operation” to find the suspect, who is on the run, according to a spokeswoman, adding that a “wide area” has been cordoned off.

Germany’s interior minister, Nancy Faeser, says security authorities are doing everything they can to catch the person and investigate the background to the attack, which occurred at the Fronhof, a market square in Solingen where live bands were playing. It was during a festival marking the 650th anniversary of the city in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia, which borders the Netherlands.