2024 Solingen stabbing

2024 mass stabbing in Solingen, Germany

During the night of August 23, 2024, there was a man Mass stabing Civilians in Solingen. A person killed three people with a knife. Eight others were wounded, five of these are in a critical condition.[1] The attack occurred at a festival marking the 650th anniversary of the city of Solingen. The attack took place at about 21.40 local time, on a busy market square. DJ Topic, performing at the time of the attack, was asked by security to continue his set to prevent mass panic.[2] After the stabbing, the festival was stopped.

2024 Solingen stabbing
LocationFronhof marketplace, Solingen, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany
Date23 August 2024 (2024-08-23)
c. 21:40 (UTC+2)
TargetSolingen 650th anniversary festival, named the Festival of Diversity
Attack type
Mass stabbing
WeaponKnife
Deaths3
Injured
8

Solingen lies between Düsseldorf and Cologne, in North-Rhine Westphalia. About 160.000 people live in the city.[3]

Background

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According to sources, the perpetrator was a man. He was armed with a knife, and aimed for the neck of the people. Two men, and one women were killed. Eight others were wounded, five of these are in a critical condition. After the attack, the perpetrator was able to flee. As there is no visible connection between the victims, the police suspect that this may have been a terrorist attack. The police also suspects that it was a single person who carried out the attack.[4]

The German chancellor, Olaf Scholz, said that the perpetrator must be caught quickly and punished to fullest extent of the law.[4]

The Islamic State (ISIS) released a statement on the messaging app Telegram on 24 August claiming responsibility. However, there is no proof so far that the group is involved.[1]

Arrests

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During the night, a fifteen year old teenager from Kyrgyzstan was arrested and questioned in connection with the events. The fifteen year old did not carry out the attack. People saw how the fifteen-year old talked to the attacker, shortly before the attack.[5]

On the day after the attack, police arrested the 26-year-old Syrian suspect Issa al H. He had presented himself to officers of a patrol car, and told them he had been the attacker. His clothes were bloody and dirty, sources say. He arrived in Germany in December 2022 and was granted protection after a year as a refugee. He is from Deir ez-Zor. He is a Sunni Muslim. Authorities hadn't suspected him of Islamist ties.[6][1]

References

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  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 Inverardi, Matthias; Sims, Tom; Wagner, Rene (2024-08-24). "German police arrest suspect in stabbing rampage". Reuters. Retrieved 2024-08-25.
  2. Stubley, Peter; Tarrant, Katie (2024-08-24). "Germany stabbing: teen arrested after three killed at Solingen festival". thetimes.com. Archived from the original on 25 August 2024. Retrieved 2024-08-24.
  3. "Germany: Several reported killed at street party in Solingen – DW – 08/23/2024". dw.com. Retrieved 2024-08-23.
  4. 4.0 4.1 "Solingen stabbing attack: 15-year-old detained by German police as two men and one woman killed at festival – live updates | Germany | The Guardian".
  5. "Solingen-News heute: Festgenommener soll sich mit Tatverdächtigem ausgetauscht haben - DER SPIEGEL".
  6. "Messerattacke von Solingen: Polizei nimmt mutmaßlichen Attentäter fest". Der Spiegel (in German). 2024-08-24. ISSN 2195-1349. Retrieved 2024-08-25.