Syrian Man Arrested in Germany Over Deadly Knife Attack; Islamic State Claims Responsibility

A 26-year-old Syrian national, identified as Issa Al H., has been arrested following a knife attack in Solingen, Germany, that resulted in three deaths and eight injuries. The attack occurred during a city anniversary celebration on Friday night. Four of the six severely injured victims remain in critical condition.

The Islamic State (ISIS) has claimed responsibility for the attack. According to the German Federal Prosecutor’s office, Al H. has confessed to carrying out the attack and holds radical Islamist beliefs. He allegedly targeted festival-goers, stabbing them in the neck and upper body.

The Federal Prosecutor’s office has charged Al H. with three counts of murder, eight counts of attempted murder, and dangerous bodily harm. The investigation is ongoing, with the focus on understanding his connections to extremist networks and any possible accomplices.

State Interior Minister Herbert Reul confirmed that the suspect had previously stayed at a refugee shelter, which was subsequently searched. Additionally, a 15-year-old and another man were briefly detained but are not believed to be directly involved in the attack.

ISIS’s Amaq news agency has claimed that the attacker sought to avenge Muslims globally, including in Palestine. The police have indicated that there was no known concrete threat prior to the festival.

Get the latest of our Loveworld News from our Johannesburg Stations and News Station South Africa,LN24SA