Festival Horror: Suspect Arrested After Deadly German Stabbing
Police have arrested the suspected attacker behind the brutal stabbing at Solingen’s Festival of Diversity. The Friday night rampage left three dead and eight hurt, four seriously.
Tragic Toll at Solingen’s Anniversary Bash
The victims – a 56-year-old woman and two men aged 56 and 67 – were celebrating Solingen’s 650th anniversary festival when the attacker struck. Authorities say the assailant targeted victims’ throats in a frenzied assault, causing chaos and horror.
Manhunt Ends in Arrest
After a 24-hour manhunt, police detained the suspect Saturday evening. Herbert Reul, North Rhine-Westphalia’s state interior minister, told German TV, “We have been following a hot lead all day. The person we have been searching for has been detained a short while ago.” Investigators gathered key evidence leading to the arrest.
The suspect is now in custody and undergoing questioning. Earlier, a 15-year-old boy was briefly arrested on suspicion of failing to report an imminent crime but later cleared.
ISIS Claims Responsibility Amid Ongoing Investigation
Islamic State has claimed the attack, though no proof has emerged. A security source told ISIS-linked Amaq Agency the suspect was “a soldier from the Islamic State” seeking revenge for Muslims in Palestine and beyond.
The city of Solingen has been left shaken. Residents laid flowers and candles at the scene as Mayor Tim Kurzbach expressed the grief: “Last night our hearts were torn apart… What happened yesterday in our city has hardly let any of us sleep.”
Police chief Thorsten Fleiss confirmed that evidence and further weapons have been seized during continued searches across North Rhine-Westphalia. It remains unclear if all the knives found were connected to the attack.
Festival Cancelled as Solingen Mourns
The Festival of Diversity has been cancelled. Local churches have opened their doors for prayer and emergency support for those affected. German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser visited the city, pledging full government support and vowed: “We will not allow such an awful attack to divide our society.”
Solingen, near Düsseldorf and the Dutch border, is home to around 160,000. Authorities are still investigating the motives and have not ruled out terrorism.
