A Syrian man has given himself up and confessed to killing three people and wounding eight in a knife rampage at a street festival, German police said yesterday.
The attack as thousands of people gathered on Friday night in the western city of Solingen has stunned Germany.
A 56-year-old woman and two men aged 56 and 67 were killed, officials said.
Photo: AP
Four of the wounded remained in a serious condition.
All of the victims were stabbed in the neck, police said.
The suspect was a 26-year-old Syrian who had “given himself up to authorities ... and declared himself responsible for the attack,” police said in a statement.
German prosecutors said they had launched a “terrorist” investigation.
The suspect arrived in Germany in December 2022 and had a protected immigration status often given to those fleeing war-torn Syria, the Bild and Spiegel reported.
The Islamic State group’s Amaq propaganda arm has claimed responsibility for the attack, saying “the perpetrator of the attack on a gathering of Christians” in Solingen “was a soldier of the Islamic State.”
It said the attack was carried out as “revenge for Muslims in Palestine and everywhere,” in an apparent reference to the Gaza conflict.
The claim could not be immediately verified.
German Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck said the suspect was not known to the security services as an extremist considered dangerous.
Habeck — who yesterday called for tougher knife laws — said “Islamic terrorism” was one of “the biggest security dangers” Germany faces.
The attack took place as thousands of people gathered for the first night of the “Festival of Diversity,” part of a series of events to mark Solingen’s 650th anniversary. The whole festival has been canceled.
German officers yesterday said that a suspect arrested a day before in a raid at a hostel for asylum seekers, not far from the scene of the attack, was considered a “witness.”
WORK TOGETHER: The US cannot assume it does not need friends, Haley said, calling isolationism unhealthy and echoing Pence’s calls to stand with Taiwan Taiwan and the US should jointly call on the UN to hold a hearing on UN Resolution 2758 and curbing China’s aggression, former US ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley said yesterday in Taipei. The UN General Assembly passed Resolution 2758 on Oct. 25, 1971, which states that the People’s Republic of China is the legitimate government of China, which led to it replacing the Republic of China in the UN. However, the resolution “never mentioned ‘Taiwan,’” and the UN should not “allow the Chinese Communist Party to hijack a resolution and claim it’s about Taiwan,” Haley told a news conference. Taiwan should
MAJOR JAM: The two tests are being conducted at sea because the system is powerful enough to disrupt civilian devices, a source familiar with the matter said Taiwan is next month to test a jamming device that might cause large-scale electromagnetic interference in the sea off Yilan County and along its coastline, a government notice to limit navigation in the test area said. Two radio jamming tests encompassing the coastal region between Toucheng (頭城) and Suao (蘇澳) townships and the nearby sea would be conducted from Sept. 2 to 6 and from Sept. 9 to 13, a Ministry of Transportation and Communications notice said. A source with knowledge of the matter said the tests are trials for a new mobile electronic warfare system developed for the armed forces
VOICING CONCERNS: Jake Sullivan is to discuss China’s increased military and economic pressure against Taiwan when he visits Beijing tomorrow, a White House official said The US encourages “all countries to expand engagement with Taiwan,” a US Department of State official said on Saturday, after Palau’s president said that the Micronesian nation has faced economic coercion from China over its ties to Taiwan. “Taiwan is a reliable, like-minded and democratic partner, and its partnerships — official and unofficial — around the world provide significant and sustainable benefits to the citizens of those countries,” a State Department spokesperson said. “We encourage all countries to expand engagement with Taiwan.” Earlier this month, Washington condemned Beijing’s “predatory economic activities.” Palauan President Surangel Whipps Jr on Aug. 14 said that “China has
PRESSURE: The Solomon Islands, acting under explicit instructions from Beijing, is aiming to prevent Taiwan from attending the next forum to be held in Honiara Australia has voiced support for Taiwan despite the Solomon Islands’ plan to undermine Taiwan’s status as an observer at the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF). The forum is one of the most important international organizations in the Pacific region, made up of 18 member states, including Australia, New Zealand and Taiwan’s Pacific allies, associate members and observers, along with “dialogue partners” such as the US, Japan, Canada and the EU. The 53rd edition of the forum opened in Tonga’s capital, Nuku’alofa, yesterday. Taiwan has been taking part in the forum and related events as a “developmental partner” under the name Taiwan / Republic of