German authorities have arrested a 26-year-old man suspected of carrying out a deadly knife attack at a festival in Solingen that left three people dead and eight others wounded, according to reporting by The Telegraph. The arrest came hours after the Islamic State (ISIS) claimed responsibility for the attack.
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After ISIS took responsibility for the attack in which someone shouted 'allahu akbar' and killed several people at a festival in Germany, people stood outside of a cathedral in Germany holding ISIS flags.
Photo of murder suspect below. pic.twitter.com/xlPyiuC33B— Ara American Uncensored (@realaraamerican) August 25, 2024
Herbert Reul, the interior minister of North Rhine-Westphalia state, announced late Saturday: "We have just arrested the true suspect." Police said the man admitted to carrying out the attack.
Earlier Saturday, the Islamic State released a statement through its official media channel Amaq claiming the attack targeted a gathering of Christians "for the cause of Palestinians and Muslims."
The stabbings occurred Friday evening during a festival marking Solingen's 650th anniversary. Witnesses reported the attacker deliberately cut at victims' throats. Two men aged 67 and 56 and a woman aged 56 were killed, while five of the eight wounded remain in serious condition.
August 24 - #ISIS has claimed responsibility for the attack in #Solingen, Germany, during the city's Diversity Festival. The attacker, who used a knife, targeted several individuals, including Iranian and German attendees, resulting in multiple casualties. The suspect fled the… pic.twitter.com/qHY8WjgCIF
— Kayhan Life (@KayhanLife) August 24, 2024
Hendrik Wüst, minister-president of North Rhine-Westphalia, described the incident as "an act of terror against the security and freedom of this country." However, German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser has not officially classified it as a terror attack.
Police made a second arrest Saturday evening at a refugee shelter in Solingen as part of the investigation, but provided no further details. Earlier, a 15-year-old boy was detained after allegedly being overheard speaking with the suspect before the attack.
Thorsten Fleiß, police director, told reporters: "After evaluating the initial images, we are assuming that it was a very targeted attack on the neck." Chief public prosecutor Markus Caspers said investigators currently see no other motive than terrorism.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz called for swift justice, stating on social media: "The perpetrator must be quickly caught and punished to the fullest extent of the law."
Authorities canceled the remainder of the weekend festival following the attack. One performer, musician Topic, described hiding in a nearby store as police helicopters circled overhead after the stabbings occurred.
