Fugitive from Syria believed to have discarded identifying documents.
Following the tragic stabbing incident in Solingen, the Federal Prosecutor's Office is currently probing a 26-year-old Syrian individual under suspected terrorism charges. Reports suggest that the man absconded after the attack and was eventually apprehended. He allegedly provided investigators with a significant clue leading to his identity.
New details have emerged about the Syrian man linked to the deadly knife attack in Solingen. According to media sources, the suspect, identified as Issa H., reportedly fled the crime scene on Friday evening and hid in a nearby backyard. During his escape, he discarded his bloodstained jacket along with his IDs. The police, who discovered them, were able to identify him beforehand. It is said that H. surrendered to investigators after around 24 hours, confessing, "I am the one you're looking for."
H. was arrested on Saturday evening and is now in custody. A judge from the Federal Court of Justice (BGH) in Karlsruhe issued an arrest warrant, among other things, on charges of belonging to the terrorist group Islamic State (IS) and homicide, according to the Federal Prosecutor's Office's recent announcement. Given the suspected terrorism connection, the Federal Prosecutor's Office has taken up the investigation against H.
H. shares the belief system of the Islamic State terrorist group and became a member at an unspecified point in time prior to August 23, according to the prosecution. Due to his radical Islamic beliefs, he decided to target "infidels" at the Solingen city festival, where he reportedly stabbed numerous festival visitors in the neck and upper body area with a knife. Afterward, he managed to escape in the ensuing chaos and panic.
Two heavily armed police officers in specialized gear transported H. in a vehicle convoy, with one officer forced his head down against the ground, causing him to barely move on his own. The suspect was also seen wearing a white glove on his left hand, but the reason remains unclear.
Possible Deportation
The indication of a potential terror connection to the stabbing incident is strengthening. Earlier, the militant group Islamic State (IS) claimed responsibility for the knife attack, which is being meticulously reviewed by North Rhine-Westphalia's Interior Minister Herbert Reul. "In general, they are usually correct, but of course it could also be a false report," Reul said in ARD's "Tagesthemen".
Reul also mentioned that the suspect resided near the crime scene in Solingen city center, where he lived in a refugee shelter. He is highly suspected, with evidence to support the claim. Sources suggest that H. could have been deported last year, as his asylum application was rejected. He was planned to be deported to Bulgaria, where he had originally entered the EU. However, he initially went into hiding and was granted subsidiary protection after the transfer deadline expired.
Memorial Services in Solingen
In the attack, two men and one woman aged between 56 and 67 lost their lives. Eight others were injured, with four initially in critical condition. However, their conditions stabilized by Sunday, according to doctors. All the injured have since recovered and are doing well, as announced by Thomas Standl, medical director of Solingen City Hospital, on TV station "World".
On Sunday, people gathered in Solingen for memorial services, with a vigil held on the Neumarkt on Saturday evening, which was attended by Federal Minister of the Interior Nancy Faeser and North Rhine-Westphalia's Minister President Hendrik Wüst. Several public events were cancelled statewide, with the state government arranging an extraordinary cabinet meeting in Düsseldorf on Sunday.
The investigation into the stabbing incident in Solingen reveals a potentially serious crime, as the suspect is accused of belonging to the terrorist group Islamic State (IS) and committing homicide. The suspected terrorist, Issa H., had reportedly tried to evade justice by absconding after the attack and hiding in a nearby backyard.
