German police arrest suspect in deadly knife attack as IS claims responsibility

World

Police have arrested the person suspected of carrying out the stabbing attack at a festival in Germany.

A 56-year-old woman and two men, aged 56 and 67, died following the attack in the city of Solingen on Friday. Eight people were injured, four seriously, while “many other people have suffered mental stress”.

The state internal affairs minister of North Rhein Westphalia, Herbert Reul, told the German public television network ARD on Saturday night: “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.”

Mr Reul added that police not only have “clues” but also have collected “pieces of evidence”.

The suspect is now in police custody and being questioned.

Pic: Reuters
Image:
Pic: Reuters

Earlier on Saturday a 15-year-old boy was previously arrested suspected of failing “to report an imminent crime,” but police and prosecutors said at a news conference in the afternoon that there were no further suspicions.


Follow Sky News on WhatsApp
Follow Sky News on WhatsApp

Keep up with all the latest news from the UK and around the world by following Sky News

Tap here

Police also made another arrest in connection with the attack.

They said the arrest followed an operation to access a building housing asylum seekers in Solingen as part of their investigation.

A man writes a message on a placard following an incident in which several individuals were killed after a man randomly stabbed passers-by with a knife at a city festival, in Solingen, Germany, August 24, 2024. REUTERS/Thilo Schmuelgen
Image:
Tributes are being left at the scene. Pic: Reuters

Islamic State has claimed responsibility for the attack but offered no immediate evidence to support their claim.

A security source told the IS-affiliated media arm Amaq Agency that the suspect “was a soldier from the Islamic State, and he carried it out as revenge against Muslims in Palestine and everywhere”.

This breaking news story is being updated and more details will be published shortly.

Please refresh the page for the fullest version.

You can receive breaking news alerts on a smartphone or tablet via the Sky News app. You can also follow @SkyNews on X or subscribe to our YouTube channel to keep up with the latest news.

Articles You May Like

Three Mile Island restart could mark a turning point for nuclear energy as Big Tech influence on power industry grows
Nadine Dorries reveals impact of being abused by Church of England vicar
New Kubota KATR farm robot concept wins CES innovation award
Tesla makes finding charging stations for people towing trailers easier
Elon Musk’s SpaceX Falcon 9 Successfully Launches THE ISRO GSAT-20 Satellite