Hendrik Wiest, the prime minister of the state of North Rhine-Westphalia, said today that a knife attack in which three people were killed and eight others injured in the western German city of Solingen was a “terrorist act”.

Police have announced the arrest of a suspect as part of the investigation into last night’s knife attack at the Sollingen Festival, which left 3 people dead and 8 others injured, 4 of them seriously.

As his correspondent reports SKAI in Germany, Dimitra Kyranoudis, a 15-year-old was arrested who, however, is not the perpetrator but allegedly knew about the perpetrator’s plans and did not report them. The perpetrator is still evading arrest.

Meanwhile, the knife used in the attacks was found near the crime scene and DNA analyzes are underway.

Newer information states that a terrorist motive cannot be ruled out and that there were no police cameras at the festival, nor was there a physical check at the entrance.

Terrorism is the most likely motive

Police do not know at this time “no motive other than terrorism”said prosecutor Markus Kaspers, who is investigating the knife attack at the Solingen Festival, in which three people died and eight others were injured.

During a press conference on the case, police director Torsten Fleiss also confirmed the information that the attacker was specifically targeting the necks of his victims, which however had initially been denied. Mr. Fleiss also clarified that so far there is no image of the perpetrator, which could be used in the investigation to identify him, but “many elements are being investigated and a lot of material is being received all the time.”

Responding to questions about a second arrest of a possible suspect, the police spokesman declined to deny or confirm and asked for the public’s understanding, “until we put together a picture that is as close to the facts as possible.” He also noted that there are different and conflicting testimonies about the appearance of the attacker and the police are making an effort to come up with a reliable and as specific description as possible.

Referring to the victims and the injured, Mr. Fleiss said that the dead are a 67-year-old man, a 56-year-old man and a 56-year-old woman, while four are fighting for their lives and that the perpetrator will face charges of at least three murders and many attempts.

In the early hours, a 15-year-old boy was arrested, who eventually turned out not to be the perpetrator of the attack, but there was information that before the attack he was talking to someone who described the plans of the attack to him.

“More than one knife” has so far been found at the scene of the crime, which is being examined by the relevant police services, which also have visual material from the attack.

Asked whether he would recommend Solingen’s citizens stay at home until the suspect has been caught, Wuppertal police chief Markus Rehrl stressed that “everyone should decide for themselves whether to go to a football match or if he will use the local means of transport”.

Beware of harsh images

⚠️ The attacker is still at large, al parecer es un hombre de aspecto arabe.
Si os encontrais en el area del festival, refugiaros. pic.twitter.com/DdGFZ1BdOe

— 𝐋𝐈𝐁𝐄𝐑𝐓𝐀𝐑𝐈𝐀𝐍 𝕏 (@The_Libertax) August 23, 2024

The prime minister of North Rhine-Westphalia called the attack a “terrorist act”.

Hendrik Wiest, the prime minister of the state of North Rhine-Westphalia, said today that a knife attack in which three people were killed and eight others injured in the western German city of Solingen was a “terrorist act”.

The BILD newspaper describes the attacker as an athletic man “with Arab features”, aged 20-30, 1.70-1.75 tall and points out that he was wearing black clothes and a cap. Approximately 200 meters from the scene of the crime, however, the killer’s weapon was found, which is subject to a special investigation by the police.

After the deadly attack at the ‘Festival for Diversity’, the nearby towns of Hilden and Haan announced the cancellation of their respective events, citing security concerns, as the attacker is still at large.

In a show of sympathy for the death of three people and the injury of five more, the German Football Association has called on Bundesliga teams to play in mourning armbands.

“The horrific act in Solingen has shocked me, it is shocking our country. We mourn the dead and worry about the injured, to whom I sincerely wish strength and a speedy recovery.”said Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and emphasized that “the perpetrator must be held accountable”calling the citizens “Let’s all stand together, against hate and violence”.

Federal Interior Minister Nancy Fesser is on her way to Solingen in North Rhine-Westphalia to be briefed on the situation and to speak with members of the special forces tasked with the search for the perpetrator.