German police said a 26-year-old Syrian man had surrendered, saying he was responsible for a deadly stabbing attack in Solingen that killed three people and injured eight others during a festival marking the city's 650th anniversary. Dusseldorf police said in a joint statement with the prosecutor's office on Sunday that the 26-year-old had admitted to the crime. Investigations have started regarding his connection with the militant group “Islamic State”, while the latter took responsibility for the attack, without providing evidence.
German police announced that a 26-year-old Syrian man has turned himself in saying he was the perpetrator of a knife attack in Solingen that killed three people and injured eight others at a festival marking the city's 650th anniversary.
Dusseldorf police said in a joint statement with the prosecutor's office that the 26-year-old had admitted to the crime.
“The involvement of this person in the attack is being intensively investigated,” the statement said.
Federal prosecutors said he faces several charges: murder, attempted murder and membership in a foreign terrorist organization. At the time of his handover, his clothes were covered in blood, German media reported.
The suspect, a Syrian citizen, had applied for asylum in Germany, police confirmed to the Associated Press news agency. He lived in a home for refugees in Solingen, which was searched. Police also arrested a 15-year-old boy, who allegedly had prior knowledge of the attack.
Meanwhile, German federal prosecutors are investigating whether the suspect was a member of the Islamic State militant group, a spokesman said.
The group described the attacker as an “Islamic State soldier” in a statement on its Telegram account on Saturday. “He carried out the attack in revenge for Palestinian Muslims and everywhere,” the group said in a statement, without providing any evidence for its claims.
Friday's attack caused fear and shock in the town of Solingen, a town of about 160,000 near the larger cities of Cologne and Düsseldorf.
“The fact that it has been submitted reassures us. It is very good that the person has surrendered and now the police are investigating. But what happened is incomprehensible,” says Cord Boettcher, resident of Solingen.
“What will happen in the coming weeks? I don't even dare to go anywhere. Of course it is reassuring that he has surrendered, but I am speechless and completely shocked. This can happen again and again,” says another resident.
The attack came amid a debate over immigration ahead of next Sunday's elections in the two regions, where anti-immigration parties such as the Alternative for Germany are expected to do well.
