The investigation into this individual’s role in the crime is ongoing and thorough, according to a statement.
The suspect, a Syrian national who had sought asylum in Germany, has been confirmed by police.
The Islamic State militant group claimed responsibility for the attack on Saturday, though they did not provide evidence.
The group asserted on its news site that the attacker targeted Christians and conducted the assaults on Friday night “to avenge Muslims in Palestine and elsewhere.” This claim has not been independently verified.
The attack has intensified discussions about immigration ahead of the upcoming regional elections in Germany’s Saxony and Thuringia regions, where anti-immigration parties like the Alternative for Germany are predicted to perform strongly.
In June, Chancellor Olaf Scholz announced that Germany would resume deporting criminals from Afghanistan and Syria following a knife attack by an Afghan immigrant that resulted in one police officer’s death and injuries to four others.
This incident has heightened concerns about potential future terror attacks in Europe.
On the same day, a synagogue in France was set on fire, with an arrest made early the next morning.
The attack has deeply shocked and saddened the city of Solingen, which has a population of about 160,000 and was hosting a “Festival of Diversity” to mark its anniversary.
The festival, which began on Friday and was set to continue through Sunday, featured various attractions.
The attack occurred in front of one of the festival’s stages, leading to the event’s cancellation and a focus on the crime scene.
Residents came together to mourn, leaving flowers and notes at the site. One sign asked, “Warum?” (Why?).
Cord Boetther, a 62-year-old local merchant, expressed his bewilderment and pain: “Why does something like this have to be done? It’s incomprehensible and it hurts.”
Initially, officials had detained a 15-year-old boy on suspicion of knowing about the planned attack but not informing authorities. However, he was not the attacker. Witnesses reported overhearing the boy and another person discussing plans that matched the attack’s details.
Reports came in shortly after 9:30 p.m. on Friday that a man had attacked several people with a knife in the central square of Solingen. The victims included two men, aged 67 and 56, and a 56-year-old woman. The police noted that the attacker seemed to target his victims’ throats deliberately.
Though the Islamic State once controlled significant parts of Iraq and Syria, it no longer holds any territory and has lost many key leaders.
Nonetheless, the group continues to recruit and claim responsibility for attacks globally, including recent deadly operationsin Iran and Russia.
Its sleeper cells in Syria and Iraq still engage in attacks against government forces and U.S.-backed Syrian fighters.
