Germany’s highest prosecution authority, the Federal Constitutional Court, has taken over the investigation into the knife attack in the western city of Solingen that left three people dead.
A spokeswoman for the Public Prosecution Service told dpa that it was investigating a prime suspect who had turned himself in on suspicion of membership in the terrorist militia Islamic State. Islamic State had previously said one of its members carried out the stabbing.
German police have arrested a “real suspect” in connection with the knife attack in Solingen that left three people dead, North Rhine-Westphalia’s Interior Minister Herbert Reul told broadcaster ARD on Saturday evening.
According to police, the suspect has confessed to being responsible for the attack and is currently being questioned.
The attack took place on Friday evening on a market square in the city centre, where a stage had been set up for live music during the Festival of Diversity, which was organised to celebrate Solingen’s 650th anniversary.
The dead in the attack were two men, aged 67 and 56, and a 56-year-old woman. Eight other people were injured, four of them seriously, according to local police chief Thorsten Fleiss. The attacker apparently chose his victims at random, but appeared to want to target their necks, Fleiss said.
Police arrest man who turned himself in on the street and claims to be the perpetrator of the knife attack at the Solingen city festival. Several people were killed and injured in a knife attack on Friday night at the city festival celebrating the 650th anniversary of the city of Solingen. Christoph Reichwein/dpa
Police officers stand at a cordon in the city center in the early morning after a knife attack at the city festival of Solingen. Several people were killed and injured in a knife attack on Friday evening at the city festival in honor of the 650th anniversary of the city of Solingen. Thomas Banneyer/dpa
Police vehicles cordon off city center early morning after knife attack at Solingen city festival. Several people were killed and injured Friday night in a knife attack at the city festival celebrating the 650th anniversary of the city of Solingen. Thomas Banneyer/dpa
People lay flowers and candles at the scene of a knife attack at Solingen’s city festival. Several people were killed and injured in a knife attack on Friday night at the city festival celebrating the 650th anniversary of the city of Solingen. Thomas Banneyer/dpa
Emergency clergy stand at a cordon in the city center early in the morning after a knife attack at the Solingen city festival. Several people were killed and injured in a knife attack on Friday evening at the city festival celebrating the 650th anniversary of the city of Solingen. Thomas Banneyer/dpa
People lay flowers and candles at the scene of a knife attack at Solingen’s city festival. Several people were killed and injured in a knife attack on Friday night at the city festival celebrating the 650th anniversary of the city of Solingen. Thomas Banneyer/dpa
