The alleged perpetrator of the knife attack that left three dead on Friday in western Germany and which was later claimed by the Islamic State jihadist group surrendered to police this morning. “A 26-year-old man surrendered to the investigating authorities and declared himself responsible for the attack. He has been remanded in custody. “His participation in the events is currently being thoroughly investigated,” the police said in a brief statement obtained by the EFE agency.
According to sources cited in the investigation by German media, he is a young man of Syrian nationality who was granted a residence permit for subsidiary protection in 2022 in Germany, where he had not so far attracted the attention of the authorities. At the time of his arrest, his clothes were still stained with blood, as he had been hiding on a terrace since the moment he stabbed his victims, more than 24 hours earlier.
Yesterday, German police arrested two people which is believed to be linked to the knife attack in Solingen, which left three dead and eight injured. The first arrest was that of a 15-year-old boy, arrested on suspicion of having knowledge of the attack. During the night, the authorities arrested a second suspect, although they have not yet confirmed whether he was the perpetrator of the crime.
The attack was claimed by the Islamic State, which described it as revenge against Muslims in Palestine and elsewhere. However, German authorities have not officially confirmed whether the attack had a terrorist context, despite the jihadist group's claims. Police continue to investigate possible links between the detainees and the attacker, who remains at large.
The attack took place as part of the “Diversity Festival,” an event to mark the city's 650th anniversary that was canceled after the attack and was expected to attract at least 80,000 visitors this weekend. The attacker attacked in a busy square in the city center, where a stage had been set up and live bands were playing for the celebration.
“The attacker stabbed people at random. That's why we are currently assuming it was an attack,” said Commissioner Sascha Kresta, spokesman for the Wuppertal police, adding that the attacker had deliberately tried to injure the victims in the neck area.
The victims, two men aged 56 and 67 and a 56-year-old woman, were stabbed at random, leading authorities to consider the possibility of a terrorist attack. Of the eight people injured by the attacker, four remain in serious condition. “The attacker stabbed people at random. That is why we are currently assuming an attack,” said Commissioner Sascha Kresta, spokesman for the Wuppertal police, adding that the attacker had deliberately tried to injure the victims in the neck area.
German security forces deployed special operations in the area yesterday, closing roads and asking city residents to avoid the historic center. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said he was “shocked” by the attack and demanded that the perpetrator be punished “with the full force of the law.”