Germany: Police arrested the accused of knife attack at weekend festival, IS claimed responsibility for the attack

A case of knife attack has come to light in the city of Solingen in the western part of Germany, in which eight people were injured. Der Spiegel and other media reported late Saturday night that three people died about 24 hours after the attack. Police refused to comment immediately. Earlier, the Islamic State group had claimed responsibility for the knife attack on Friday. Police have detained a 26-year-old man suspected in this case.

Earlier on Saturday, police said they had made a second arrest as part of a police operation at a home for refugees in Solingen. Police said they could not provide further details about the man or his connection to the incident. Police also detained a minor who they said may be connected to the attack, but said the perpetrator was still at large.

The Islamic State group, in a statement on its Telegram account, described the man who carried out the attack as a “soldier of the Islamic State”, saying: “He carried out the attack to take revenge for Palestine and Muslims everywhere.

Hendrik Wuest, the premier of the state of North Rhine-Westphalia, described the attack on Friday evening during a festival in the city as an act of terrorism. “This attack strikes at the heart of our country,” Wuest told reporters.

Home Minister Nancy Feser said authorities were making every effort to catch the attacker. Police conducted a search operation throughout the day. The teenager detained is a 15-year-old minor, whose possible connection to the attacker is being investigated by police. The attack took place in Fronhof, a market square in the western German city, where live bands were playing as part of a celebration to mark its 650th anniversary.

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The culprit must be caught quickly and punished to the fullest extent of the law,” Chancellor Olaf Scholz said in a post on X.

Authorities cancelled the remainder of the weekend festival. The government said earlier this month it wanted to toughen rules on carrying knives in public places, reducing the maximum length allowed. In June, a 29-year-old policeman was stabbed to death during an attack on a right-wing demonstration in Mannheim. In 2021, several people were injured in a knife attack on a train.