SOLINGEN, GERMANY — The Islamic State claimed responsibility on Saturday for a knife attack in Solingen that resulted in three deaths and eight injuries. The group described the attacker as a “soldier of the Islamic State” who carried out the assault in retaliation for perceived injustices against Muslims.
Police have detained a 15-year-old boy potentially connected to the attack, but the main perpetrator remains at large. The attack occurred on Friday evening during a festival celebrating Solingen’s 650th anniversary, leading to immediate condemnation from local officials.
Hendrik Wuest, Premier of North Rhine-Westphalia, called the attack an act of terror. Interior Minister Nancy Faeser emphasized that authorities are doing everything possible to capture the assailant. Chancellor Olaf Scholz demanded that the perpetrator be brought to justice swiftly.
The attack took place in Fronhof, a market square filled with festival-goers. Markus Caspers from the Duesseldorf public prosecutor’s office indicated that the attack is being treated as a potential terrorist incident. Witnesses reported that the attacker appeared to target victims’ throats.
In response, authorities have cordoned off the area, and the remainder of the festival has been canceled. Solingen’s Mayor, Tim-Oliver Kurzbach, expressed the city’s shock and grief.
The incident, which comes amid heightened political tensions and upcoming state elections, has sparked a controversial reaction from some political figures. Bjoern Hoecke, a top candidate for the anti-immigrant AfD party, used the attack to criticize immigration policies.
Fatal attacks like this are rare in Germany, and the government has recently proposed stricter regulations on public knife-carrying.
