Solingen stabbing latest: Special policing units scour German city for knife attacker after three killed

Specialist policing units are scouring the German city of Solingen, as a knife attacker who killed three in a mass stabbing remains on the run.

A large-scale manhunt was launched last night for the suspect, who started attacking people shortly after 9.30pm on Friday as thousands gathered at the central square in Solingen, west Germany, for a festival to mark the city’s 650 ^th anniversary.

On Saturday, special police units joined the search for an unknown knifeman.

A 15 year old boy has been detained after he was seen speaking with the perpetrator of the attack moments before it was carried out, police said in a press conference this afternoon.

Police are questioning the teenage boy, as the hunt for the perpetrator - believed to be a man - continues.

Counterterrorism officer Markus Caspers said an investigation into the motive is ongoing, but that the “overall circumstances” show that terrorism “cannot be ruled out”.

The three people who died were a 67-year-old man, a 56-year-old man and a 56-year-old woman. Eight people were injured, including four “very seriously”.