Knife Attack at German Street Festival: Suspect Surrenders and Confesses
A 26-year-old man has turned himself in to German authorities and confessed to a deadly knife attack that occurred during a street festival in Solingen, Germany. According to statements from the Düsseldorf police and local prosecutors on Sunday, the suspect is now under investigation for murder, attempted murder, and alleged connections to a foreign terrorist organization, as reported by Germany’s federal prosecutor.
The attack, described by Chancellor Olaf Scholz as a “horrific act,” took place during an event marking Solingen’s 650-year anniversary. The incident left three people dead and eight others injured. All victims suffered knife wounds to the neck, and four of the injured remain in critical condition. The victims include two men, aged 56 and 67, and a 56-year-old woman.
The Islamic State (IS) group has claimed responsibility for the attack but has not provided concrete evidence linking the suspect to the organization. The attacker, identified as a Syrian national, arrived in Germany in December 2022 after fleeing his war-torn homeland. According to German media outlets like Bild and Spiegel, the suspect surrendered while wearing dirty, blood-stained clothing.
Following the suspect’s confession, German police conducted a raid on a nearby refugee center linked to the assailant. During this operation, another individual was detained, and a 15-year-old boy, believed to have had prior knowledge of the attack, was also arrested.
The attack took place near Fronhof, Solingen’s central market square, just 300 meters (984 feet) from the refugee center. In response, the city’s authorities promptly evacuated the area and canceled the planned three-day festival, which had been expected to draw around 75,000 attendees.
The community of Solingen, known for its steel industry and home to approximately 160,000 residents, is in a state of mourning and shock. Mayor Tim Kurzbach expressed his deep sorrow and extended his condolences to the victims’ families, saying, “It breaks my heart that such an attack happened in our city. My thoughts are with those who lost their lives and those still fighting for survival.”
In solidarity with the victims, players in Germany’s top football league, the Bundesliga, wore black armbands during their matches on Saturday. Meanwhile, residents have been gathering at the scene of the attack to lay flowers and light candles in remembrance of the victims.
This tragic event has intensified ongoing discussions about immigration and asylum policies in Germany, especially as the country approaches crucial regional elections in the eastern regions next week, where far-right parties hope to make significant gains.
