Suspect arrested in deadly knife attack in Germany; Islamic State group claims responsibility

MUNICH — A suspect in a Friday night knife attack in Germany that killed three people and wounded eight others has been arrested, officials said Saturday.

The Islamic State has claimed responsibility for the attack in the western German city of Solingen, where a celebration of the city’s anniversary had been taking place, officials said. Four of the six severely injured are still in life-threatening condition.

The state interior minister of North-Rhine-Westphalia, Herbert Reul, confirmed during a live TV interview Saturday that the alleged attacker has been arrested and that pieces of evidence were found.

He would not share further details saying that the investigation is ongoing and that the suspect is being currently questioned. He added that police had followed leads to this individual throughout the day.

Reul confirmed that the suspect, based on his current knowledge, had stayed at the refugee shelter that was searched earlier. He did not say that the arrest took place there. 

Düsseldorf police, which are leading the investigation, also confirmed the suspect’s arrest but could not provide additional information, also citing the ongoing investigation.

The suspect’s identity has not been released.

This was the third arrest today in connection with the attack — the other was a 15-year-old and a man — police said they did not believe either of them were the attacker but both were questioned.

Investigators believed the 15-year-old, who was detained Saturday morning, may have had prior knowledge of the attack. Two witnesses told police after the attack that the 15-year-old had a conversation with another person about plans for an attack.

The Islamic State-run Amaq news agency released a statement Saturday saying the attacker targeted Christians and is a “soldier of the Islamic State” who carried out the attack “to avenge Muslims in Palestine and everywhere.”

Markus Röhrl, Wuppertal police president, said during a news conference Saturday that prior to the festival there was no concrete threat.