Wanted suspect arrested after attack in Solingen
Published: Sunday, Aug 25th 2024, 02:00
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Following the fatal knife attack in Solingen, the police have arrested a suspect. This was announced by North Rhine-Westphalia's Interior Minister Herbert Reul (CDU) late on Saturday evening on ARD's "Tagesthemen" program. He spoke of a "real suspect" who had been searched for all day. He is now being questioned. A spokesperson for the state Ministry of the Interior confirmed that the man had turned himself in. This had previously been reported by "Spiegel" and "Bild".
With regard to a search in a refugee shelter, Reul said that this was the result of further information that had been exploited. "But that was not what we wanted. We spent the whole day following a hot lead." This was then successfully followed up. "The person we were actually looking for all day has been in our custody for a short time." According to Reul, he is someone "whom we highly suspect".
On Friday evening, a man apparently stabbed bystanders at random at an anniversary celebration marking the 650th anniversary of the founding of the city of Solingen - the "Festival of Diversity". 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. The Islamic State (IS) terrorist militia claimed responsibility for the attack, but the security authorities have not yet confirmed an Islamist motive.
Reul: Have also found evidence
"I myself am a little relieved at the moment," said Reul after the arrest of the wanted man. "I can only tell you that it is now more than just a hunch. Not only have we had a lead on this person, but we have also found evidence."
According to "Spiegel", he is a 26-year-old Syrian. He came to Germany at the end of December 2022 and applied for asylum. According to Spiegel, he was not previously known to the security authorities as an Islamist extremist. This information was confirmed to the German Press Agency.
Islamic State: "Revenge for Muslims in Palestine"
In a statement on its Amak propaganda channel, the Islamic State claimed 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 an alleged letter of confession from IS. A police spokesman said that it was now necessary to check whether this letter was genuine. Investigators have pointed out that IS has often claimed responsibility for an attack in the past without there being any reliable evidence of cooperation with the perpetrator.
IS is presumably referring to the war in the Gaza Strip between Israel and the Palestinian terrorist organization Hamas with its "revenge for Muslims in Palestine". Neither IS nor the Al-Qaeda terrorist network have alliances with the Islamist Hamas. However, according to the security authorities, 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 on Saturday afternoon, Chief Public Prosecutor Markus Caspers said the following about the background to the crime in Solingen: "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 Federal Public Prosecutor General could consider taking over the case. 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.
Charges against arrested 15-year-old
A 15-year-old youth had already been arrested earlier. He may have been charged with failing to report planned crimes. "According to available witness statements, a previously unknown person is said to have spoken to the teenager shortly before the attack about intentions that would fit the execution of the crime," said Caspers.
Scholz: "Proceed with the full force of the law"
The crime in Solingen caused great shock throughout Germany. Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz 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.
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. 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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