Terrorist group ISIS unveils suspected footage of the gunman involved in the Solingen incident
Following the recent knife attack in Solingen, the Islamic State (IS) terrorist group declared responsibility for the incident. Various propaganda outlets also posted a video, which allegedly features the perpetrator detailing his motivations and swearing loyalty to the IS leader.
Two days later, IS shared through its online propaganda networks, a video believed to show the attacker. In this approximately one-minute clip, a hooded, youthful figure can be seen holding a long knife toward the camera. The individual swears an oath to the IS leader, referred to as "Emir," in Arabic. Saturday saw IS acknowledging the attack, which led to three fatalities.
IS claimed to have obtained videos from the Solingen knife attack assailant via its online propaganda platforms. The timing and authenticity of the video remain uncertain, as well as the identity of the person in it – whether he's actually the perpetrator. The man, who introduces himself as Samarkand A. – possibly a nickname – apparently hails from Dair as-Saur in eastern Syria, where IS cells continue to function and carry out attacks.
The suspected suspect, a 26-year-old Syrian national, handed himself in on Saturday evening, and is now being detained. The Federal Prosecutor's Office accuses him of supporting IS and being driven to kill as many "non-believers" as possible at the Solingen city festival due to his extreme Islamic beliefs. He has been identified as Issa H.
The man in the IS video described his attack as revenge for the persecution of Muslims in Syria, Iraq, and Bosnia. Turning to his parents, he mentioned his attack also being a response to the "people in Palestine" experiencing massacres with the assistance of "Zionists," – a nod to the ongoing conflict between Israel and Islamic Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
Some experts have argued that the threat of terrorism and radicalization in the Islamic world has escalated due to the prolonged conflict in Gaza. Germany, along with the USA, is one of Israel's leading allies and among the top weapons suppliers.
The Commission convened a meeting to discuss the authenticity and implications of the IS video and the Solingen knife attack. The Commission expressed concern about the possible rise in extremist beliefs among certain individuals, prompting a call for increased efforts in counter-radicalization programs.
