Solingen, Germany (AP) — A knife attack at a bustling festival celebrating Solingen’s 650th anniversary has left three dead and eight others injured, marking a tragic and alarming event in the heart of the city. The attack occurred late Friday night as festivalgoers enjoyed music and performances at the “Festival of Diversity.”
The Islamic State (IS) militant group claimed responsibility for the attack, stating on its news site that the perpetrator targeted Christians and acted as a “soldier of the Islamic State” in retaliation for perceived injustices against Muslims worldwide, particularly in Palestine. However, the group provided no evidence to support its claims, and the validity of the assertion remains unverified.
In response to the attack, local authorities launched a series of investigations, including raids on a home for asylum seekers in Solingen’s city center. Special forces were deployed, and one individual was detained, though police have yet to confirm a direct connection to the attack. Early Saturday morning, police arrested a 15-year-old boy suspected of knowing about the planned assault but failing to report it. The teenager is not believed to be the attacker, and his involvement remains under investigation.
The victims of the attack include two men, aged 67 and 56, and a 56-year-old woman. Authorities reported that the assailant appeared to have deliberately targeted their throats, suggesting a calculated and vicious approach.
The incident has sparked widespread fear and grief throughout Solingen, a city of approximately 160,000 residents near Cologne and Düsseldorf. The “Festival of Diversity,” which was supposed to run through Sunday, was immediately canceled as police and forensic teams secured the scene and gathered evidence.
“We are seeing the first signs of a new wave of terrorist attacks,” said Peter Neumann, a professor of security studies at King’s College London. He noted that IS is attempting to capitalize on the ongoing unrest following Hamas’ terror offensive in October 2023, despite having no direct connection to that event. “The kind of attack we saw in Solingen is exactly the type that IS is trying to inspire,” Neumann explained, adding that the group’s tactics involve encouraging lone-wolf attacks using simple, readily available weapons.
Thorsten Fleiss, the chief of police operations on Friday night, confirmed that investigations are ongoing throughout North Rhine-Westphalia. Fleiss emphasized the challenge of piecing together evidence and witness testimony to form a comprehensive understanding of the attack. Police have recovered several knives, though it remains unclear if any were used in the attack. Authorities have urged the public to remain vigilant and have set up an online portal for witnesses to submit relevant information.
The German Interior Minister, Nancy Faeser, visited Solingen on Saturday evening, offering support to the city and its residents. She was joined by Hendrik Wüst, Minister-President of North Rhine-Westphalia, and State Minister for Internal Affairs Herbert Reul, both of whom expressed solidarity with the victims and vowed to strengthen security measures in the wake of the tragedy.
“We will not allow such an awful attack to divide our society,” Faeser stated, urging calm and resilience. Wüst described the incident as “an act of terror against the security and freedom of this country,” while Reul announced that a planned visit to the crime scene by the Interior Minister would be postponed due to the ongoing police operation.
The attack has elicited strong reactions from Germany’s top leadership. Chancellor Olaf Scholz condemned the violence, calling for the perpetrator to be swiftly apprehended and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. President Frank-Walter Steinmeier also expressed his shock and sorrow, urging unity against hatred and violence.
The Islamic State group, though significantly weakened and no longer in control of territory, continues to pose a global threat, as evidenced by its ongoing recruitment efforts and claims of responsibility for attacks worldwide. The Solingen incident is a stark reminder that the group’s influence, though diminished, has not been entirely eradicated.
The investigation into the attack is ongoing, with authorities working tirelessly to uncover the full scope of the events leading up to the tragedy. The people of Solingen, and Germany as a whole, are left to grapple with the horror of an attack that has shattered a once-celebratory occasion.
Credit: AP
