German authorities have identified and detained a 26-year-old Syrian man in connection with a deadly stabbing rampage at a festival in Solingen, western Germany. The suspect, Issa Al H., was flown to the Federal Court of Justice in Karlsruhe for his initial hearing after being accused of murder and affiliation with the "Islamic State" (IS) group. The attack resulted in the deaths of three individuals and left eight others injured.

The Federal Public Prosecutor's Office confirmed that Al H. has been remanded in custody on charges of murder and membership of the IS group, as well as other related offenses. While IS claimed responsibility for the attack, stating it was in retaliation for Muslims in Palestine and elsewhere, the group did not provide evidence to support their claim, making it impossible to verify their involvement.

According to reports, the suspect had turned himself in and admitted responsibility for the attack. It was revealed that Al H. arrived in Germany in 2022 as a refugee and had applied for asylum in the city of Bielefeld. However, his asylum claim was denied, and he was supposed to have been deported last year. The investigation led authorities to search a refugee home in Solingen where Al H. had been residing.

The incident occurred during a festival in Solingen's market square, where a music stage had been set up to celebrate the city's 650-year history. The attacker specifically targeted his victims' throats, causing fatal injuries to two men aged 67 and 56, as well as a 56-year-old woman. Four others sustained serious injuries while fleeing the scene. Fortunately, those who were severely injured are reported to be on the road to recovery after receiving treatment at nearby hospitals.

In response to the rising incidents of knife crimes in Germany, Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck has called for stricter knife laws. He emphasized that there is no need for knives to be carried in public places and highlighted "Islamic terrorism" as one of the significant security threats facing Germany. However, this tragic event is also anticipated to fuel anti-immigration sentiment and xenophobia, potentially impacting the upcoming elections in Thuringia and Saxony.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz will be visiting Solingen on Monday morning to pay his respects to the victims and participate in a memorial service. He will be accompanied by NRW State Premier Hendrik Wüst. Meanwhile, opposition politicians, including Friedrich Merz and Markus Söder, have renewed calls to toughen deportation policies for individuals whose asylum applications have been denied.

As the investigation into the Solingen stabbing attack continues, German authorities are determined to bring justice to the victims and ensure the safety of the public.