Prosecutors suggest German stabbing attack could be an act of terrorism
German police report they have detained a teenager related to the fatal stabbings in Solingen that occurred on Friday night; however, he is not considered the primary suspect. Read Full Article at RT.com
TroibNews 
The knifeman responsible for the deaths of three individuals and injuries to eight others during a stabbing incident in Solingen on Friday night remains unidentified and at large, according to police.
Prosecutors have indicated that terrorism could be a potential motive behind the violent attack at a Festival of Diversity, which marked the city's 650th anniversary. The assault occurred just before 10 PM, resulting in the deaths of three people and serious injuries to four others as the attacker escaped amid the chaos.
Markus Caspers, from the counter-terrorism unit of the public prosecutor’s office, stated at a Saturday press conference that the search for the assailant is ongoing. While the precise motivation for the incident is yet to be determined, he noted that authorities are not dismissing the possibility of a “terrorist-motivated offense,” particularly given that the victims “were not related to each other.”
Caspers also confirmed reports that a 15-year-old boy had been detained in connection with the incident, though he emphasized that the teenager is not the main suspect. It is believed that the boy had prior knowledge of the planned attack but failed to alert the authorities. Witnesses have claimed to overhear him discussing potential violent actions with another individual.
Thorsten Fleiss, the chief of operations for the German police on the night of the attack, reported that officers are conducting searches and investigative activities across North Rhine Westphalia, where Solingen is located. Following the stabbings, authorities recovered “multiple knives” near the scene and are investigating whether any were employed in the attack. Fleiss mentioned that there is currently a lack of video evidence of the perpetrator and urged the public to provide any relevant information directly to law enforcement instead of sharing it on social media.
Fleiss noted that synthesizing evidence and witness accounts to form a comprehensive understanding of the events at the Festival of Diversity poses a significant challenge.
In a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter) on Saturday, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz referred to the incident as a “terrible event,” stressing that “the perpetrator must be captured quickly and punished to the full extent of the law.”
Earlier in the month, German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser proposed a ban on carrying knives with blades longer than six centimeters (almost 2.4 inches) in public, in response to a rise in stabbing incidents within the country.
Anna Muller contributed to this report for TROIB News
Prosecutors have indicated that terrorism could be a potential motive behind the violent attack at a Festival of Diversity, which marked the city's 650th anniversary. The assault occurred just before 10 PM, resulting in the deaths of three people and serious injuries to four others as the attacker escaped amid the chaos.
Markus Caspers, from the counter-terrorism unit of the public prosecutor’s office, stated at a Saturday press conference that the search for the assailant is ongoing. While the precise motivation for the incident is yet to be determined, he noted that authorities are not dismissing the possibility of a “terrorist-motivated offense,” particularly given that the victims “were not related to each other.”
Caspers also confirmed reports that a 15-year-old boy had been detained in connection with the incident, though he emphasized that the teenager is not the main suspect. It is believed that the boy had prior knowledge of the planned attack but failed to alert the authorities. Witnesses have claimed to overhear him discussing potential violent actions with another individual.
Thorsten Fleiss, the chief of operations for the German police on the night of the attack, reported that officers are conducting searches and investigative activities across North Rhine Westphalia, where Solingen is located. Following the stabbings, authorities recovered “multiple knives” near the scene and are investigating whether any were employed in the attack. Fleiss mentioned that there is currently a lack of video evidence of the perpetrator and urged the public to provide any relevant information directly to law enforcement instead of sharing it on social media.
Fleiss noted that synthesizing evidence and witness accounts to form a comprehensive understanding of the events at the Festival of Diversity poses a significant challenge.
In a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter) on Saturday, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz referred to the incident as a “terrible event,” stressing that “the perpetrator must be captured quickly and punished to the full extent of the law.”
Earlier in the month, German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser proposed a ban on carrying knives with blades longer than six centimeters (almost 2.4 inches) in public, in response to a rise in stabbing incidents within the country.
Anna Muller contributed to this report for TROIB News
