Solingen Knife Attack: German Police Arrest Suspect After Islamic State Claims Responsibility

By Nidhi Giri
Sun, 25 Aug 2024 08:11 AM (IST)
Source:JND

Solingen Knife Attack: The German Police have arrested a suspect in connection with the knife attack in Solingen, DW News reported, citing Interior Minister of North Rhine-Westphalia, Herbert Reul. Reul told German TV that a "real suspect" who police had been looking for all day had been nabbed, but didn't clarify whether he was talking about one of the two people who had already been arrested.

He further said the man was "highly" suspected of the crime and that evidence had been found.

"I myself am a bit relieved at the moment," the minister said, as quoted by news agency ANI. "I can only tell you that it is now more than a hunch. Not only did we have a lead on this person, but we've also found pieces of evidence."

The arrested suspect's clothes were dirty and covered in blood, German news magazine Der Spiegel quoted security sources as saying.

Three people were killed and eight others sustained severe injuries during a stabbing attack during the “Festival of Diversity” held to mark the anniversary of the founding of the city of Solingen. The attack took place at the Fronhof, a market square in Solingen where live music was taking place on Friday.

The Islamic State (IS) group claimed responsibility for the deadly knife attack, DW News reported. In a statement on social media, IS' Amaq media wing said the knifeman was a "soldier of the Islamic State" who targeted a "Christian gathering" in what it said was "revenge for Muslims in Palestine and everywhere."

However, these claims could not be independently verified, according to DW News.

(With Agency Inputs)