Mayor of Germany appeals for calm after deadly attack

The mayor of the western German city of Solingen has appealed for calm, as political debates on deportations and weapons reform raged just three days after a deadly knife attack in the city.

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“Let’s calm down,’’ Tim Kurzbach said after a meeting with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and the premier of the state of North Rhine Wesphalia, Hendrik Wüst.

“It’s not just about Solingen, it’s about our country,’’ he added.

Kurzbach said residents and emergency services were still a long way from dealing with the horror of these events, warning that demonstrations in the city could add further strains.

“Have the debates, but have them in your cities too,’’ he said.

Three people were killed and eight wounded by a knife-wielding attacker during a festival celebrating the city’s 650th anniversary on Friday evening.

A 26-year-old suspect from Syria was subsequently remanded in custody by order of an investigating judge.