Islamic State group claims responsibility for knife attack in Solingen, Germany

The Islamic State group on Saturday claimed responsibility for a knife attack in Solingen Germany that left three people dead and eight others injuredThe group on its Amaq news site said that the attacker targeted Christians and is a soldier of the Islamic State who carried out the attack to avenge Muslims in Palestine and everywhere news agency AP reportedThe police and the special forces raided a home for asylum seekers in the city centre of Solingen in connection with the attack according to German news agency DPAWe have received tips and therefore are currently conducting police activities a police spokesperson saidSpecial police units had joined the search for the unknown knifeman who cut the throats of revellers at a crowded festival in the western German city Four of the injured have suffered serious wounds the German police saidA 15yearold boy was arrested on Saturday as the police suspected that he did not inform about the attack despite having knowledge about itMarkus Caspers from the counterterrorism section of the public prosecutors office while addressing a news conference on Saturday said that the authorities have not found the perpetratorSo far we have not been able to identify a motive but we are looking at the overall circumstances We cannot rule out the possibility of terrorism Caspers said though he did not offer further detailsThe three victims were two men aged 67 and 56 and a 56yearold woman authorities said The police said the attacker appeared to have deliberately aimed for his victims throatsThorsten Fleiss from the German police who was the chief of operations on Friday night said that the police are conducting various searches and investigations in the entire state of North Rhine Westphalia to nab the attackerHe added that it is a big challenge to bring together the available evidence and testimony from witnesses to come up with a overall pictureFleiss also said that the police have found several knives but were unable to confirm if any of them have been used as weapon by the perpetrator during the attackThe cops warned citizens to remain vigilant even as well wishers started to leave flowers at the scene to pay tributes to the victims The authorities established an online portal where witnesses could upload footage and any other information relevant to the attackChurches in Solingen have opened their doors to offer a space for prayer and emergency pastoral careGerman Interior Minister Nancy Faeser who paid a visit to Solingen on Saturday evening said that the government would do everything possible to support the city and its peopleWe will not allow that such an awful attack divides our society she said appearing alongside MinisterPresident of the German State of North Rhine Westphalia Hendrik Wuumlst and State Minister for Internal Affairs Herbert ReulWuumlst described the attack as an act of terror against the security and freedom of this country But Faeser the countrys top security official has not classified the incident as a terror attack yetReul announced that the planned visit of the interior minister to the crime scene would not take place because of the ongoing police operation in the affected areas of the city He pleaded with the public to give time to the police so that they can do their work adding that the police presence in the area would be increased for larger events especially because the perpetrator is still on the runThe incident came to light after locals alerted the police shortly after 930 pm on Friday about an unknown attacker who wounded several people with a knife on a central square the FronhofLast night our hearts were torn apart We in Solingen are full of horror and grief What happened yesterday in our city has hardly let any of us sleep the mayor of the city Tim Kurzbach said while speaking to reporters on Saturday near the scene of the attackThe Festival of Diversity marking the citys 650th anniversary began on Friday and was supposed to run through Sunday with several stages in central streets offering attractions such as live music cabaret and acrobaticsThe attack took place in the crowd in front of a stage Hours after the incident the stage lights were still on as police and forensic investigators looked for clues in the cordonedoff square The rest of the festival stands canceled following the attackSolingen has about 160000 residents and is located near the bigger cities of Cologne and DuesseldorfCaspers told media that the 15yearold boy arrested in the attack was picked up after two women contacted the police The women claimed that they had heard a conversation between the boy and an unknown person before the attack speaking about intentions that corresponded to the events that followedGerman Chancellor Olaf Scholz said on Saturday that the perpetrator must be caught quickly and punished with the full force of the lawThe attack in Solingen is a terrible event that has shocked me greatly An attacker has brutally killed several people I have just spoken to Solingens mayor Tim Kurzbach We mourn the victims and stand by their familiesiquest Scholz said on XGerman President FrankWalter Steinmeier also spoke to Kurzbach on Saturday morning The heinous act in Solingen shocks me and our country We mourn those killed and worry about those injured and I wish them strength and a speedy recovery from all my heart The perpetrator needs to be brought to justice Lets stand together iquest against hatred and violence Steinmeier said in a statement on SaturdayThere have been growing concerns over the increased knife attacks in Germany Interior Minister Nancy Faeser recently proposed toughening weapons laws to allow only knives with a blade measuring up to 6 centimeters nearly 24 inches to be carried in public rather than the length of 12 centimeters 47 inches that is currently allowedWith AP inputs