At a “Festival of Diversity” an unknown person stabs people and manages to escape. The police arrest a man in a refugee shelter – but is he the perpetrator?
In connection with the knife attack in Solingen, the police have arrested a man in a refugee shelter in the city. The connections between the crimes are now being investigated, a police spokesman told the German Press Agency. The terrorist militia Islamic State (IS) had previously claimed responsibility for the attack, which left three people dead and several injured.
The unknown perpetrator apparently randomly stabbed bystanders at an anniversary celebration in the city of Solingen in the Bergisches Land on Friday evening. He then escaped in the tumult and initial panic. Two men aged 67 and 56 and a 56-year-old woman died. Eight people were injured, four of them seriously. Police chief Thorsten Fleiß said that, based on the current situation and after evaluating the first images, it is assumed that it was “a very targeted attack on the neck” of the victims.
Police storm refugee shelter in Solingen
After the arrest in the evening, the police spokesman said he could not yet provide any personal details. The police had previously stormed the refugee accommodation in the former tax office in Solingen with strong forces. “We have received information and are currently taking police action based on this,” said a police spokesman. A special task force is also in action. The area is cordoned off by a hundred officers.
Islamic State: “Revenge for Muslims in Palestine”
IS claimed responsibility for the attack. In a statement on the IS mouthpiece Amak, it was stated that the attacker was an IS member and carried out the attack out of “revenge for Muslims in Palestine and elsewhere”. The attack was aimed at a “group of Christians”. The Düsseldorf police also said they received a letter from IS claiming responsibility. Now they have to check whether this letter is genuine, said a police spokesman. Investigators pointed out that IS has often claimed responsibility for an attack in the past without there being any reliable evidence of real cooperation with the perpetrator.
Presumably, IS is referring to the war in the Gaza Strip between Israel and the Islamist Hamas when it says “Palestine”. Neither IS nor the terrorist organization Al-Qaeda have alliances with Hamas. However, according to some observers, the dangers of terrorism and radicalization in the Islamic world have increased as a result of the months-long war in Gaza. Alongside the USA, Germany is one of Israel’s most important allies and also one of its most important arms suppliers.
Public prosecutor: Terrorist-motivated act not ruled out
At a press conference in Wuppertal in the afternoon, Chief Public Prosecutor Markus Caspers said of a possible motive: “We have not been able to identify a motive so far, but given the overall circumstances, we assume that the initial suspicion of a terrorist-motivated act cannot be ruled out.”
If there is increasing evidence of a terrorist crime, the Attorney General could consider taking over the case. Investigations are underway on suspicion of murder in three cases and attempted murder in conjunction with grievous bodily harm in a further eight cases, said Caspers. The police are currently assuming that the perpetrator was a lone perpetrator.
15-year-old accused of failing to report a planned crime
Fleiß did not confirm reports that the murder weapon had already been found. Several knives had been confiscated, “which we will now examine individually.” This will help to determine which one was used in the crime. Many details, such as those relating to the knives or the course of events, remained unanswered for tactical reasons.
A 15-year-old youth has already been arrested, but the police do not believe he is the perpetrator. One possible charge against him is failure to report planned crimes. “According to witness statements, an as yet unknown person is said to have spoken to the youth shortly before the attack about intentions that would be consistent with the crime,” said Caspers.
The emergency calls were received by the police at 9.37 p.m.
Fleiß described that several emergency calls were received at the control center of the Wuppertal police headquarters on Friday evening at 9:37 p.m. A man had deliberately stabbed people at the festival during Solingen’s 650th anniversary celebrations – the “Festival of Diversity,” it was said.
The Solingen incident caused great concern throughout Germany. Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) spoke of a “terrible crime”. “We cannot accept something like this in our society and we must never accept it. The full force of the law must be applied here,” said the SPD politician at an event in Stahnsdorf, Brandenburg.
Faeser recently announced tightening of gun laws
Witnesses to the incident can upload cell phone photos and videos via the police’s information portal (www.nrw.hinweisportal.de). The city of Solingen, in turn, set up a hotline for citizens to ask about missing persons (0212 – 290-2000). The police have received an increasing number of inquiries from concerned relatives, it was said.
Federal Justice Minister Marco Buschmann announced consultations on the gun law for knives. “We will now discuss in the federal government how we can further advance the fight against this type of knife crime,” the FDP politician told “Bild am Sonntag”.
So far, the FDP has rejected Interior Minister Nancy Faeser’s (SPD) proposals for stricter bans. The SPD is demanding that the laws be made significantly stricter. In public, knives with blades of up to six centimetres long should now be allowed, instead of the current twelve centimetres. There should be a general ban on dangerous switchblades.
Source: Stern
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