Germany knife attack suspect hands himself in after three people killed and four injured at festival

25 August 2024, 08:45

There were fatalities and injuries in an attack at the city's 650th anniversary celebrations.
There were fatalities and injuries in an attack at the city's 650th anniversary celebrations. Picture: Alamy

By Emma Soteriou

A knife attack suspect has handed himself in after three people were killed and four injured at a festival in Germany.

Listen to this article

Loading audio...

German police confirmed on Saturday evening that they had detained a suspect in the Solingen knife attack.

Three people were killed and at least five were seriously wounded in the festival attack on Friday evening.

A 26-year-old Syrian man, who turned himself in, is being held in custody, Duesseldorf police said in a statement.

“The involvement of this person is currently under intensive investigation,” they said.

Read More: 'ISIS terrorists' with suicide vest lead Russian prison revolt, killing guards and taking hostages

Read More: Moscow and Kyiv swap prisoners of war as Ukraine marks independence anniversary

Herbert Reul, the state internal affairs minister of North Rhein Westphalia, told Tagesschau: "We have been following a hot lead all day."

"The person we have been searching for all day has been detained a short while ago."

He is being questioned, Mr Reul said, adding that police not only have "clues" but also have collected "pieces of evidence".

It comes after the Islamic State (IS) claimed responsibility for the attack.

The group said the attacker targeted Christians and is a “soldier of the Islamic State” who carried out the attack “to avenge Muslims in Palestine and everywhere”.

Several people are feared dead following the reported attack.
Several people are feared dead following the reported attack. Picture: Alamy

Officials earlier said a 15-year-old boy was also arrested on Saturday.

He was suspected of knowing about the planned attack and failing to inform authorities but was not the attacker, police said.

The three people who died were two men aged 67 and 56 and a 56-year-old woman, authorities said.

They said the attacker appeared to have deliberately aimed for his victims' throats.

Mayor Tim Kurzbach said in a Facebook post: “This evening, we in Solingen are all in shock. We all wanted to celebrate our city’s anniversary together and now have dead and wounded to lament.”

“It breaks my heart that an attack on our city happened,” he added.

Emergency services and police are deployed near the scene where people were killed and injured in an attack at a festival in Solingen, western Germany
Emergency services and police are deployed near the scene where people were killed and injured in an attack at a festival in Solingen, western Germany. Picture: Alamy

One witness, Lars Breitzke, told local paper The Solinger Tageblatt that he knew something was wrong when he saw a performer with an odd expression on their face.

"And then a person fell over just a meter away from me," Breitzke said.

State Premier Hendrik Wüst said: "In these dark hours, the people of our state and beyond are with Solingen with their hearts and thoughts.

"An act of brutal and senseless violence has struck our state to the heart. The whole of North Rhine-Westphalia stands by the people of Solingen, especially the victims and their families.

"A big thank you goes to the many rescue workers and our police who are fighting for people’s lives at this very moment.”

People had gathered in their masses to celebrate the 650th anniversary of the 160,000-strong city, which is around 15 miles east of Düsseldorf.

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

The "tragic" incident happened in the Cowgate area of Edinburgh

Elderly man decapitated after being 'struck by bus' in Edinburgh city centre named

Dame Karen Pierce won't have her term in the United States extended, LBC understands.

Britain's ambassador to the US won't have her term extended in wake of historic Donald Trump election victory

Twenty man have been jailed for a combined 219 years.

Grooming gang of 20 men jailed for 219 years after sex attacks on girls as young as 12 in West Yorkshire

Police officer Nick Bailey suffered novichok poisoning when he searched the home of the former Russian spy Sergei Skripal

A ‘tsunami of pure heat and fire’: Police officer describes terrible pain of being poisoned by Novichok nerve agent

Eddie Redmayne and Lashana Lynch 's highly-anticipated new thriller series The Day Of The Jackal premiered on Sky on Thursday

Day of the Jackal: Real story behind new TV big money remake

Exact date clear skies return as Britain is gripped by 'anticyclonic gloom'

Exact date sunny skies set to return as Britain is gripped by 'anticyclonic gloom'

Mike Amesbury

MP Mike Amesbury charged with assault after 3am clash in street

The Bank of England has cut interest rates

Interest rate cut to 4.75% - marking just the second reduction in almost four years

Victoria Taylor's cause of death has been revealed

Missing mother Victoria Taylor's cause of death revealed as inquest opens into her death

Australia is introducing a minimum age for children using social media.

Australia proposes 'world-leading' ban on social media for children under 16

Fresh police appeal 30 years on from murder of schoolgirl who went to buy cornflakes but never returned home

Renewed hunt for murder suspect 30 years after schoolgirl went to buy cornflakes but failed to return home

Educating Manchester star headteacher once called a 'breath of fresh air' struck off following Ofsted investigation

Educating Manchester star headteacher once called a 'breath of fresh air' struck off following Ofsted investigation

Saleh Aslam died in a tragic accident at home while playing as Spider-Man

Boy, 5, dies in tragic accident while playing ‘Spider-Man’ game at home

Child serial killer Lucy Letby denied retrial over conviction for attempted murder of baby girl

Child serial killer Lucy Letby offered 'tips' to colleague on how to get away with murder, inquiry hears

Labour's Pat McFadden refuses to say if Trump has 'KKK or Nazi sympathies'

'Does Trump have KKK or Nazi sympathies?' Minister refuses three times to answer 'extremism' question

Live
Donald Trump to begin picking cabinet as Biden praises Kamala Harris' 'courage' and integrity'.

US election 2024 LIVE: Donald Trump to begin picking cabinet as Biden praises Kamala Harris' 'courage' and integrity'