- "Apprehended are the genuine suspects" following the assault
Local authorities have apprehended an individual believed to be linked to the recent stabbing incident in Solingen. North Rhine-Westphalia's Minister of the Interior, Herbert Reul (CDU), revealed this fact during the ARD "Tagesthemen," describing the suspect as "really suspicious." He had been on the cops' radar for the entire day before eventually surrendering. An official spokesperson from the Interior Ministry confirmed this, as previously reported by both "Spiegel" and "Bild."
In relation to a search conducted in a refugee center in Solingen, Reul commented that this was merely an additional piece of information they had been looking into. However, this was not their main focus. Instead, they had trailed a promising lead all day long, one that they managed to close in on just minutes ago. "We've got our man," Reul announced with satisfaction.
At this stage, it's too early to ascertain whether the arrest represents a significant breakthrough. "I must admit, I'm feeling a bit relieved," said Reul. "We've moved beyond mere suspicion now. We've not only had reason to suspect this individual, but we've also found some concrete evidence."
As reported by "Spiegel," the arrested individual is a 26-year-old Syrian who arrived in Germany towards the end of December 2022 and applied for asylum. To date, the security services had not classified him as an Islamic extremist. These facts have been corroborated by the German Press Agency.
A chaotic scene unfolded at a jubilee celebration in Solingen, Bergisches Land, on Friday evening. A man, for reasons unknown, assaulted bystanders with a knife. Amidst the confusion and panicked chaos, he managed to escape. Sadly, two men aged 67 and 56, as well as a 56-year-old woman, lost their lives as a result. Eight others were injured, four of whom suffered critical injuries.
The Festival in Solingen, originally scheduled for this weekend, has been postponed due to the ongoing investigation following the stabbing incident. Despite the tragic events, Reul expressed hope that the festival can still take place once safety concerns have been addressed.
In light of the recent arrest, local authorities are reassuring the public that they are doing everything possible to ensure the safety of all upcoming events in Solingen, including the rescheduled Festival.
