ISIL (ISIS) has claimed responsibility for a knife attack in Solingen, Germany that killed three people and wounded eight others, according to the group’s Amaq news site.
In a statement on Saturday, the group said the perpetrator targeted Christians and was a “soldier of the Islamic State” who carried out the attack “to avenge Muslims in Palestine and everywhere”.
The attack took place on Friday evening as thousands gathered at a central square for celebrations to mark Solingen’s 650th anniversary on Friday. The slain victims included one woman and two men.
Markus Caspers, from the counterterrorism section of the public prosecutor’s office, told a news conference on Saturday that authorities have not found the perpetrator.
“So far, we have not been able to identify a motive, but looking at the overall circumstances, we cannot rule out” the possibility of terrorism, Caspers said, though he did not offer further details.
A 15-year-old boy was arrested early on Saturday. Caspers said he was arrested after two female witnesses contacted police. They said they had listened to a conversation between the boy and an unknown person before the attack, speaking about intentions that corresponded to the events that followed.
Police, including special forces, also raided a home for asylum seekers in Solingen’s city centre, the German news agency DPA reported.
“We have received tips and therefore, we are currently conducting police activities,” a police spokesperson said.
Thorsten Fleiss from the German police, the chief of operations on Friday night, said it was a “big challenge” to bring together available evidence and testimony from witnesses to come up with an overall picture.
United Arab Emirates Dirham Exchange Rate