Authorities have identified a 26-year-old man as the perpetrator of the deadly stabbing spree that took place at a festival in Solingen, Germany last week. The man, identified as Issa Al H., is a Syrian national with possible links to the Islamic State (ISIS), according to federal prosecutors in Germany.

The ISIS group previously claimed responsibility for the attack, stating that the assailant targeted Christians in order to avenge Muslims in Palestine and beyond. In a statement on its Telegram account, ISIS described the attacker as a "soldier of the Islamic State."

Issa Al H. had been residing at a refugee home in Solingen prior to the attack, revealed North Rhine-Westphalia's interior minister, Herbert Reul. Der Spiegel magazine reported that the suspect had moved to Germany in late 2022 and sought asylum.

Chancellor Olaf Scholz, who visited the site of the stabbing, called for stricter immigration laws and an increase in deportations in the aftermath of the attack. Scholz emphasized the need to ensure that those who are not eligible to stay in Germany are repatriated and deported. He condemned the incident as an act of terrorism against the entire nation.

The attack occurred on August 23 during a festival commemorating Solingen's 650-year anniversary. Victims, who were gathered in front of a stage enjoying a live music performance, were targeted by the assailant around 9:35 p.m. local time. Tragically, three people lost their lives in the attack - two men aged 67 and 56, along with a 56-year-old woman. Police noted that the attacker deliberately aimed for the victims' throats.

Solingen Mayor Tim Kurzbach expressed shock and sadness following the incident. In a translated social media post, he lamented the assassination attack on their town, highlighting the abrupt shift from a festive celebration to mourning the dead and injured.

While Germany experiences relatively low rates of fatal stabbings and shootings, the government had recently expressed intentions to toughen rules on carrying knives in public. In a separate incident in May, an Afghan migrant went on a stabbing spree in Mannheim, injuring several individuals including an anti-Islam activist and a police officer who succumbed to their injuries. Shortly after, a member of the right-wing Alternative for Germany (AfD) party was also stabbed while campaigning in Mannheim.

Interestingly, the recent wave of violence in Germany comes ahead of three upcoming state elections in Thuringia, Saxony, and Brandenburg. The anti-mass immigration right-wing party, Alternative for Germany (AfD), has a chance of winning in these elections. While the motive and identity of the Solingen assailant remain unknown, a prominent AfD candidate for one of the state elections, Bjoern Hoecke, seized on the attack, criticizing the prevailing multiculturalism as unsustainable and calling for change.

Germany remains on high alert as investigations into the deadly stabbing spree in Solingen continue. The authorities are working tirelessly to uncover all relevant details about the attacker's motives and potential links to extremist groups.