A Syrian man has confessed to fatally stabbing three people and injuring several more during a festival in Solingen, Germany, last week, CNN reports, citing local police.
The attack has sent shockwaves throughout the country, leading opposition parties to demand stricter regulations on immigration and asylum.
The victims, two men aged 67 and 56, and a 56-year-old woman, were killed during the violent rampage at the “Festival of Diversity,” a three-day event celebrating the 650th anniversary of Solingen. The incident occurred near the main stage where attendees had gathered to enjoy live music, around 15 miles east of Düsseldorf.
German prosecutors have charged the 26-year-old suspect with being a member of ISIS. The militant group claimed responsibility for the attack through its Amaq news service but provided no evidence to support its assertion. In a statement, prosecutors alleged that the suspect, motivated by “radical Islamist convictions,” sought to kill as many people as possible at the festivities.
After a manhunt, the suspect turned himself in to authorities, reportedly covered in blood. According to the Bild newspaper, he approached officers and said, “I’m the one you’re looking for.” Law enforcement had conducted searches at a refugee shelter related to the incident and also arrested a 15-year-old boy in connection with the attack.
Following the attack, local authorities had urged residents to remain vigilant as the manhunt unfolded, with fears growing over the identity of the attacker.
The incident has sparked renewed calls for action against rising knife crime in Germany, prompting proposals from the Interior Ministry to tighten laws pertaining to such crimes.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz condemned the incident as “upsetting” and “terrible,” expressing solidarity with the victims and their families. He is scheduled to visit Solingen on Monday to meet with local officials and community members.
