A Syrian man, identified as Issa Al H, has been charged with multiple crimes following a brutal knife attack at a festival in Solingen, Germany, which resulted in three deaths and eight injuries. The 26-year-old faces charges of three counts of murder, attempted murder, and dangerous bodily harm.
German police detained Issa late Saturday night after he turned himself in covered in blood.
The suspect approached officers around 11 p.m. and admitted, “I am the one you are looking for.”
Authorities reported that his clothes were stained with blood, and he was seen barefoot, wearing goggles and headphones, as he was led away by armed police.
The attack occurred during the “Festival of Diversity,” which was celebrating the 650th anniversary of Solingen, a city with approximately 160,000 residents.
The festival, which was expected to draw around 80,000 visitors, was abruptly canceled following the stabbing spree.
Issa is believed to be affiliated with the Islamic State (ISIS), which claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement on its Telegram account. However, the exact nature of his connection to the militant group remains unclear. Authorities have confirmed that Issa had previously applied for asylum in Germany.
The attack unfolded at 9:37 p.m. as festival-goers watched live music. Issa reportedly targeted individuals at random, aiming at their necks. Four of the eight injured are in critical condition. The violence erupted directly in front of the stage, where DJ Topic was performing. In an effort to prevent mass panic, German officials requested that he continue playing for an additional 10-15 minutes before halting the music and informing the crowd of the emergency.
During the investigation, police also arrested a 15-year-old boy for failing to report the attacker’s threats, which he allegedly heard before the rampage.
Witnesses claimed that the teenager was seen talking to the suspect, who reportedly said, “Today I’m going to stab everyone.”