In the account of the Cologne diarist Hermann Weinsberg, whose brother-in-law Steffen Horn was injured in the attack, "The ruffians murdered, stabbed and pitifully killed many, plundered the people and the wagons, took some prisoners, horses and booty with them, stripped noble maidens and good folk and left them naked".

[2] The perpetrators were soldiers in the service of Archbishop-Elector Ernest of Bavaria, from the garrisons of Worringen and Rodenkirchen.

News of the massacre reached the city of Cologne at 2 in the afternoon of 3 July, causing consternation.

[3] On 8 July a spokesman conveyed Ernest of Bavaria's apologies to the city council of Cologne.

[5] The Flemish engraver Frans Hogenberg, then living in Cologne, produced a print commemorating the slaughter.