Start of the city festival: Process for Solingen’s terrorist attack begins

Nine months after the terrorist attack by Solingen, the trial against the alleged assassin begins in Düsseldorf today. On August 23, 2024, the Syrian Issa Al H. is said to be crazy at the city festival for the 650th anniversary of Solingen, stabbed three visitors in front of one of the stages and tried to kill ten more.

The fatalities are two men (56 and 67 years old) and a woman (56). Eight people were injured. The attacker is said to have just missed two visitors, but has torn their clothes. The federal prosecutor also tries these attacks as attempts at murder.

The process begins in the high -security wing of the Düsseldorf Higher Regional Court. Two defenders were provided to the accused. Twelve injuries and relatives of fatalities appear as co -plaintiffs. The prosecutor’s indictment is 95 pages.

Triple murder, ten times murder attempt

The Federal Prosecutor has accused the alleged assassin for triple murder and ten times attempted murder. He is also accused of being IS terrorist. As a radical Islamist, Issa Al H. wanted to kill the large number of “unbelievers” as possible.

A few hours before the crime, the now 27-year-old of the terrorist group of Islamic State (IS) is said to have sworn loyalty. A day later, IS complained to the attack. It was the first commitment of this kind since the attack on the Berlin Christmas Market 2016.

In August, the city of Solingen wanted to celebrate its 650th anniversary on three stages. 75,000 people were expected for the “Festival of Diversity” on the weekend. But on the first evening at 9:37 p.m., screams of pain and horror are. Shortly afterwards the festival was canceled.

Issa Al H. was arrested in Solingen a day after the crime. Since then he has been in custody.

The Solingen lawyer Simon Rampp represents eight affected people – both injured and relatives of fatalities of the attack. “In my view, the evidence is overwhelming. The investigators have done extremely good work,” he said before the trial started. He will work for the maximum penalty if the allegations should be confirmed.

The accused did not comment on the allegations to the investigators and the judge. However, he is said to have claimed to have been driven by delusions and hallucinations to a psychiatrist.

The attack had fueled the political discussion about deportations, the Dublin system and internal security in Germany. Security packages were put together and adopted. An investigation committee in the Düsseldorf state parliament is currently dealing with the question of why the deportation of the later alleged assassin failed.

Issa Al H., according to the EU asylum rules, should be deported to the first admission meland in Bulgaria as early as 2023. When he was to be picked up from the refugee accommodation, he was not to be found. Another return attempt was not made. The deadline passed and he got subsidiary protection in Germany.

The Düsseldorf Higher Regional Court has scheduled 22 days of negotiations by September 24th.