Suspect in Solingen knife attack arrested, investigation ongoing

BERLIN — German police arrested the suspected assailant in the Solingen knife attack, authorities announced on Saturday.

North Rhine-Westphalia’s Interior Minister Herbert Reul informed public broadcaster ARD that the suspect was apprehended that evening.

“We have just arrested the real suspect. He is now being questioned by the police, and we expect to obtain clearer information after the interrogation,” Reul said.

The attack, which took place on Friday evening during a live music show in Solingen’s city center, resulted in three deaths and eight injuries.

Der Spiegel reported that the suspect is a 26-year-old Syrian immigrant who arrived in Germany in 2022. The magazine, citing security sources, noted that the suspect turned himself in to police on Saturday evening, with his clothes reportedly dirty and covered in blood.

Earlier on Saturday, the Daesh/ISIS terrorist group claimed responsibility for the attack. However, German authorities stated that they could not confirm the validity of this claim as the investigation is still ongoing. — Agencies