- Arrest made in connection to Solingen assault incident
After the fatal stabbing incident in Solingen, authorities apprehended a suspect. North Rhine-Westphalia's Interior Minister Herbert Reul (CDU) revealed this on Saturday night during ARD's "Tagesthemen". He referred to a "genuine suspect" who had been hunted all day and is now under interrogation. A representative from the state interior ministry verified that the individual turned himself in. This information was initially reported by "Spiegel" and "Bild".
In relation to an investigation in a refugee shelter, Reul reported that it was due to fresh information that had been analyzed. "However, this isn't what we desired. We pursued a promising lead throughout the day," he mentioned. This lead eventually succeeded in being traced. "The one we've been hunting all day is now in our custody." According to Reul, this person is "strongly suspected."
On Friday evening, it appears a man indiscriminately stabbed bystanders during a 650th anniversary celebration for the city of Solingen - the "Festival of Diversity". He then fled amidst the confusion and panic. Three men, aged 67, 56, and 56, along with a woman of the same age, lost their lives. Eight people were injured, with four suffering severely. The Islamic State (IS) acknowledged responsibility for the attack, but there is currently no confirmation from the security forces of an Islamic motive.
Reul: Found Evidence
"For now, I can breathe a sigh of relief," stated Reul following the arrest. "All I can say is, it's more than mere suspicion. We didn't just have a tip about this individual, we also came across evidence."
According to Spiegel sources, the suspect is a 26-year-old Syrian who entered Germany at the end of December 2022 and submitted an asylum request. He was not on the security authorities' watch list as an Islamic extremist. These details were confirmed to the German Press Agency.
Islamic State: "Revenge for Muslims in Palestine"
The Islamic State declared in a statement through its Amak propaganda channel that the attacker was an IS member and carried out the attack in retaliation for Muslims in Palestine and other regions. The attack was said to have targeted "a group of Christians."
The Düsseldorf police also received a purported IS claim of responsibility. Now it must be determined if this letter is authentic, stated a police spokesperson. It was noted from investigative circles that the IS has previously claimed various attacks without providing any verifiable evidence of collaboration with the perpetrator.
Presumably, the IS is referring to the conflict between Israel and the Palestinian terrorist organization Hamas with revenge for Muslims in Palestine. Neither the IS nor the terrorist network Al-Qaeda have alliances with the Islamic Hamas. However, the security authorities believe that the threat of terrorism and radicalization in the Islamic world has grown as a result of the ongoing conflict in Gaza. Germany, along with the USA, is a major ally of Israel and also a significant arms supplier.
Public Prosecutor: Terrorist Motive Not Ruled Out
Regarding the background of the attack in Solingen, Senior Public Prosecutor Markus Caspers stated at a press conference in Wuppertal on Saturday afternoon: "We have yet to establish a motive, but given the overall circumstances, we cannot dismiss the initial suspicion of a terrorist motive."
If signs of a terrorist act emerge, the case could be transferred to the Federal Prosecutor General. Investigations are ongoing for suspected murder in three cases and attempted murder in conjunction with severe bodily harm in an additional eight cases, as Caspers mentioned.
Charges against arrested 15-year-old
Previously, a 15-year-old juvenile was arrested. The suspected charge against him is failing to report planned crimes. "According to eyewitness testimonies, an unidentified person is said to have conversed with the youth about intentions matching the crime shortly before the attack," Caspers said.
Scholz: "With the Full Force of the Law"
The incident in Solingen sparked nationwide outrage. Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz labeled it as a "heinous crime". "We must not tolerate such actions in our society and should never accept them. We must proceed with the full force of the law," the SPD politician stated at an event in Brandenburg's Stahnsdorf.
Federal Minister of Justice Marco Buschmann announced discussions on knife regulations. "We will now engage in discussions within the federal government to advance the fight against this type of knife crime," the FDP politician told "Bild am Sonntag". So far, the FDP has rejected the proposals of Interior Minister Nancy Faeser (SPD) for stricter bans.
The SPD is calling for a clear tightening of the laws. In public, knives should only be carried up to a blade length of six centimeters instead of the current twelve centimeters. A general ban on carrying dangerous switchblades should be implemented.
In the context of the investigation, Reul mentioned that the identified suspect is not only strongly suspected but also had evidence against him. Furthermore, it's worth noting that the women in Solingen, who were among the victims, showed the diversity and unity of the city, proving that such heinous acts will not deter the community.
