Islamic State claimed responsibility for a knife attack in Solingen, Germany, which resulted in three deaths and eight injuries on Saturday, August 24th. The police have detained a teenager suspected to be involved in the attack, but the actual perpetrator remains at large.
The radical organization released a statement on its Telegram account, identifying the attacker as an “Islamic State soldier” who carried out the assault as a form of revenge for Palestinians and Muslims worldwide. However, no evidence was immediately provided, and the extent of the assailant’s connection to Islamic State remains unclear.
North Rhine-Westphalia Governor Hendrik Wuest described the fatal knife attack on Friday, August 23rd, as a terrorist act. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz posted on X, emphasizing the need for swift apprehension of the perpetrator and strict legal repercussions.
Interior Minister Nancy Faeser stated that authorities are diligently pursuing the fleeing attacker, with a 15-year-old potentially linked to the assault already in custody. Shortly after 9:30 PM on Friday evening, witnesses reported a unknown assailant wielding a knife at the Fronhof market square in Solingen, resulting in three fatalities and eight injuries, five of which were critical. The square was hosting a celebration for the 650th anniversary of the city’s founding, with a live band performing at the time of the attack.
Due to the lack of known motives and apparent lack of connection between the suspect and victims, Duesseldorf prosecutor Markus Caspers classified the incident as a terrorist act.
Police official Thorsten Fleiss indicated that the attacker seemed to intentionally target the victims’ throats. The square was cordoned off on Saturday, with candles and flowers left by passersby. A memorial service for the victims was also held.
Solingen Mayor Tim-Oliver Kurzbach expressed shock and sorrow, saying, “We are filled with shock and grief.”
German musician Topic, who was performing on a nearby stage during the attack, recounted being instructed to stop playing as the assailant was still at large. Authorities advised everyone to seek shelter in a nearby store while helicopters hovered overhead.
The remaining activities of the weekend festival were canceled following the incident. North Rhine-Westphalia Interior Minister Herbert Reul visited the scene in Solingen on Saturday morning, deeming it a deliberate attack on life.
Fatal stabbing and shooting incidents are relatively rare in Germany. The government had recently announced plans to strengthen regulations on carrying knives, reducing the maximum allowed length in public spaces.
Solingen is renowned for its knife manufacturing industry and has a population of approximately 165,000 residents. The attack comes ahead of upcoming elections in Thuringia, Saxony, and Brandenburg next month, providing an opportunity for the right-wing Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, known for its anti-immigration stance, to make gains in the polls.