Germany Attack in Solingen - terror motive not ruled out
Following the fatal knife attack in Solingen, the public prosecutor's office has not ruled out a terrorist motive. At a press conference in Wuppertal, senior public prosecutor Markus Caspers said that no other motive had yet been identified. However, many questions remain unanswered after the crime on Friday evening, which left three dead and several injured. These include the exact motive of the fugitive perpetrator, his identity and the role of a 15-year-old who has already been arrested.
24.08.2024, 17:05
SDA
The unknown perpetrator apparently stabbed bystanders at random on Friday evening at an anniversary celebration of the city of Solingen in the Bergisches Land region. He then escaped in the commotion and initial panic. Two men, aged 67 and 56, and a 56-year-old woman died. Eight people were injured, four of them seriously. Police chief Thorsten Fleiss said that according to the current status and after analyzing the initial footage, it is assumed that it was "a very targeted attack on the necks" of the victims.
Investigators: motive other than terror is not recognizable
Senior public prosecutor Caspers said: "We have not yet been able to identify a motive, but based on the overall circumstances, we assume that the initial suspicion of a terrorist-motivated act cannot be ruled out." Should the indications of a terrorist offense become more concrete, the Federal Public Prosecutor General could consider taking over the case. Caspers said that the investigation is being conducted on suspicion of murder in three cases and attempted murder in conjunction with grievous bodily harm in a further eight cases.
So far, the police are assuming a single perpetrator. "A perpetrator has not yet been identified, so the investigation is being conducted against persons unknown," said Chief Public Prosecutor Caspers. According to police chief Fleiss, there is still no clearly identified image material of the perpetrator.
A tip-off portal has been set up and "extensive" material is being received. However, the evaluation is still ongoing, "so at the moment we can't publish a specific picture of the perpetrator because we can't yet attribute it specifically". If you ask him whether there is any footage of the perpetrator, he has to answer "no" at the moment.
15-year-old accused of not reporting a planned crime
Fleiss did not confirm reports that the murder weapon had already been found. Several knives have been seized, "which we will now examine individually". The aim is to clarify which one can be attributed to the crime. Many details, such as the knives or the course of the crime, remained unanswered for reasons of investigative tactics.
A 15-year-old youth has already been arrested, but the police do not believe him to be the perpetrator. He may be charged with failing to report planned crimes. "According to available witness statements, a previously unknown person is said to have spoken to the teenager shortly before the attack about intentions that would fit the execution of the crime," said Caspers.
Police operations are underway throughout North Rhine-Westphalia and throughout Germany, according to police commander Fleiss. He spoke of extensive investigative measures.
The emergency calls were received by the police at 9.37 pm
Fleiss described how several emergency calls were received by the control center of the Wuppertal police headquarters at 9.37 p.m. on Friday evening. It was reported that a man had deliberately stabbed people at the 650th anniversary celebrations in Solingen - the "Festival of Diversity".
The attack in Solingen caused great shock across Germany. Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) spoke of a "terrible crime". "We must not accept something like this in our society and never accept it. The full force of the law must be applied here," said the SPD politician at a meeting in Stahnsdorf, Brandenburg.
Following a telephone conversation with Solingen's mayor Tim Kurzbach (SPD), Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier declared: "The perpetrator must be brought to justice. Let's stand together - against hate and violence."
Faeser recently announced stricter gun laws
Witnesses to the incident can upload cell phone photos and videos via the police's tip-off portal (www.nrw.hinweisportal.de). The city of Solingen in turn set up a hotline for citizens with questions about missing persons (0212 - 290-2000). The police had received an increasing number of inquiries from worried relatives, it was said.
Interior Minister Nancy Faeser (SPD) had recently announced a tightening of gun laws in view of the increase in knife attacks. This means that knives with a blade length of up to six centimetres instead of the previous twelve centimetres will only be allowed to be carried in public. There is to be a general ban on handling dangerous switchblade knives.
