IS claims responsibility for knife attack in Solingen – arrest
Published: Saturday, Aug 24th 2024, 22:10
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In connection with the knife attack in Solingen, the police have arrested a man in a refugee shelter in the city. A police spokesman told the German Press Agency that connections between the crimes were now being investigated. The Islamic State (IS) terrorist militia had previously claimed responsibility for the attack, which left three dead and several injured.
The unknown perpetrator apparently stabbed bystanders at random at an anniversary celebration of the city of Solingen in the Bergisches Land region on Friday evening. He then escaped in the commotion and initial panic. Two men, aged 67 and 56, and a 56-year-old woman died. Eight people were injured, four of them seriously. Police chief Thorsten Fleiss said that according to the current state of affairs and after analyzing the initial footage, it is assumed that it was "a very targeted attack on the necks" of the victims.
Police storm refugee accommodation in Solingen
After the arrest in the evening, the police spokesman said that he could not yet say anything about personal details. The police had previously stormed the refugee accommodation in the former tax office in Solingen with large forces. "We have received information and are currently carrying out police measures as a result," said a police spokesperson. A special task force was also deployed. The area is being cordoned off by a team of hundreds.
Islamic State: "Revenge for Muslims in Palestine"
IS claimed responsibility for the attack. In a statement on the IS mouthpiece Amak, it said that the attacker was an IS member and had carried out the attack out of "revenge for Muslims in Palestine and elsewhere". The attack was aimed at a "group of Christians". According to the Düsseldorf police, they also received a letter of confession from IS. A police spokesman said that it was now necessary to check whether this letter was genuine. Investigators pointed out that IS had often claimed responsibility for an attack in the past without there being any reliable evidence of real cooperation with the perpetrator.
IS presumably uses the term "Palestine" to refer to the war in the Gaza Strip between Israel and the Islamist Hamas. Neither IS nor the terrorist organization al-Qaeda have alliances with Hamas. However, according to some observers, the dangers of terrorism and radicalization in the Islamic world have increased as a result of the months-long war in Gaza. Alongside the USA, Germany is one of Israel's most important allies and also one of its most important arms suppliers.
Public prosecutor's office: Terrorist-motivated act not ruled out
At a press conference in Wuppertal this afternoon, senior public prosecutor Markus Caspers said the following about a possible motive: "We have not yet been able to identify a motive, but based on the overall circumstances, we assume that the initial suspicion of a terrorist-motivated crime cannot be ruled out."
If the indications of a terrorist offense were to increase, the case could be taken over by the Federal Public Prosecutor General. Caspers said that the investigation is being conducted on suspicion of murder in three cases and attempted murder in conjunction with grievous bodily harm in a further eight cases. So far, the police are assuming a single perpetrator.
15-year-old accused of failing to report a planned crime
Fleiss did not confirm reports that the murder weapon had already been found. Several knives have been seized, "which we will now examine individually". The aim is to clarify which one can be attributed to the crime. Many details, such as the knives or the course of the crime, remained unanswered for reasons of investigative tactics.
A 15-year-old youth has already been arrested, but the police do not believe him to be the perpetrator. He may be charged with failing to report planned crimes. "According to witnesses, a previously unknown person is said to have spoken to the teenager shortly before the attack about intentions that would fit the crime," said Caspers.
The emergency calls were received by the police at 9.37 pm
Fleiss described how several emergency calls were received by the control center of the Wuppertal police headquarters at 9.37 pm on Friday evening. It was reported that a man had deliberately stabbed people at the 650th anniversary celebrations in Solingen - the "Festival of Diversity".
The crime in Solingen caused great shock throughout Germany. Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) spoke of a "terrible crime". "We must not accept something like this in our society and never accept it. The full force of the law must be applied here," said the SPD politician at a meeting in Stahnsdorf, Brandenburg.
Faeser recently announced stricter gun laws
Witnesses to the incident can upload cell phone photos and videos via the police information portal (www.nrw.hinweisportal.de). The city of Solingen in turn set up a hotline for citizens with questions about missing persons (0212 - 290-2000). The police have been receiving an increasing number of inquiries from worried relatives.
Federal Minister of Justice Marco Buschmann announced consultations on gun laws for knives. "We will now discuss in the federal government how we can further advance the fight against this type of knife crime," the FDP politician told Bild am Sonntag.
So far, the FDP has rejected the proposals of Interior Minister Nancy Faeser (SPD) for stricter bans. The SPD is demanding a significant tightening of the laws. According to the proposal, knives should only be allowed to be carried in public with a blade length of up to six centimetres instead of the previous twelve centimetres. There should be a general ban on handling dangerous switchblade knives.
©Keystone/SDA
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