- Potential Terror-Related Incident in Solingen: No Conclusive Evidence Yet
Following the lethal knife assault in Solingen, the prosecutor's office ponders over a potential terrorist association. No clear motive has been identified as of yet, shared Chief Public Prosecutor Markus Caspers at a press conference in Wuppertal. Multiple questions remain unanswered following the incident on Friday evening, including the true motivation of the absconding assailant, his identity, and the involvement of a 15-year-old under custody.
The unidentified assailant went on a random knife rampage during the city of Solingen's jubilee festival in Bergisches Land on Friday evening. Amidst the chaos and initial panic, he managed to escape. Tragically, two men aged 67 and 56, along with a 56-year-old woman, lost their lives. Eight individuals were injured, four of them severely. According to Police Chief Thorsten Fleiß, their preliminary assessment suggests that the attack was well-aimed at the victims' necks.
Untangled Motives Remain Vague
Caspers admitted, "We have yet to pinpoint a motive, but given the larger context, we cannot dismiss the initial suspicion of a terror-driven act." If new evidence pointing towards a terrorist act surfaces, the High Prosecutor General may take charge of the case. The investigations currently focus on three murder cases and eight attempted murder cases involving grievous bodily harm, according to Caspers.
Single Perpetrator Suspected
The police suspect a lone attacker in this incident. "At present, we have not identified the assailant, so the investigation is ongoing against unidentified individuals," said Caspers. There are currently no clear visuals of the perpetrator, as per Fleiß.
A virtual tip line has been established, and Fleiß reported receiving an "extensive" amount of material. However, the assessment process is ongoing, thus, a distinct image of the suspect cannot be released at this moment.
Minor Faces Charges of Failing to Report Planned Crime
Confirmed reports of the weapon's discovery were not acknowledged by Fleiß. Several knives have been confiscated and subjected to individual testing to determine their involvement in the crime. Many aspects, such as the knives or the crime's sequence, are still unknown due to tactical reasons.
A 15-year-old has been taken into custody, but the police do not regard him as the assailant. The potential charge against him is failure to report planned crimes. "As per the available witness testimonies, an unknown individual reportedly spoke to the juvenile about intentions compatible with the crime execution shortly before the attack," said Caspers.
Police actions are being carried out in North Rhine-Westphalia and across the federal territory, as per Fleiß, who referred to the extensive investigative measures undertaken.
Emergency Calls Registered at 21:37
Fleiß explained how several emergency calls were made to the Wuppertal police headquarters at 21:37 on Friday evening. A man was reported to have stabbed individuals at the 650th anniversary celebration of Solingen — the "Festival of Diversity."
The incident in Solingen caused widespread anxiety nationwide. Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) described it as a "heinous crime." "We should not tolerate such incidents in our society and never grow complacent towards them. The full force of the law must be employed here," stated the SPD politician at a Brandenburg's Stahnsdorf event.
Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, following a phone conversation with Solingen's Mayor Tim Kurzbach (SPD), declared, "The perpetrator must be held accountable. We stand united — against prejudice and violence."
Recently, Interior Minister Nancy Faeser (SPD) announced stricter gun laws due to the rise in knife attacks. In public places, knives with blade lengths exceeding six centimeters will be prohibited, replacing the current twelve centimeters limit. A general ban on carrying dangerous switchblades will also be enforced.
Witnesses can submit mobile phone photos and videos via the police's tip-off portal (www.nrw.hinweisportal.de). The city of Solingen, on the other hand, has set up a hotline to assist citizens with missing person inquiries (0212 - 290-2000). Scores of concerned relatives have reached out, reportedly.
The Police are currently investigating the incident as a potential terrorist act, given the assailant's actions and the larger context, as stated by Chief Public Prosecutor Markus Caspers. Despite their ongoing investigation, the police have not yet identified the perpetrator, leaving the investigation against unidentified individuals.
