A 26-year-old Syrian man has turned himself in and confessed to stabbing to death three people and wounding eight others at a festival in Solingen, Germany. The suspect will appear before a judge in Karlsruhe on Sunday as the investigation looks into any potential connection to a terrorist organization.
ISIS claimed responsibility for the attack, but provided no evidence to support their claim. The suspect was detained at a refugee shelter after a major manhunt, which saw authorities deploy special forces and establish extensive search measures in North Rhine Westphalia.
The victims of the attack have been identified as two men aged 67 and 56, and a woman aged 56. Eight others were injured, with four sustaining life-threatening injuries. The attacker specifically targeted the necks of his victims, according to police spokesman Thorsten Fleiß.
The incident occurred at a central square in Solingen during the 'Festival of Diversity,' a celebration marking the city's 650th anniversary. Eyewitnesses described the chaos that ensued as the attack unfolded just meters away from a musical performance on stage.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz condemned the attack as a disturbing and tragic event. The incident comes amidst a rise in knife crime in Germany, prompting proposed legislation to address the issue.
Police data shows a significant increase in incidents of knife crime causing serious bodily harm in Germany, with 8,951 cases reported in 2023, 791 more than the previous year.
