ALBAWABA - The German Federal Prosecutor's Office for Counter-Terrorism launched an inquiry Sunday after the alleged Solingen stabbing attacker confessed. The Islamic State-claimed attack startled the nation and sparked political discussion.
Nasrallah announces successful strikes on sensitive military areas, refutes Israeli allegationsThe 26-year-old Syrian suspect surrendered to authorities on Saturday evening, claiming responsibility for the Friday night festival attack in western Germany that killed 3 and wounded 8.
The Karlsruhe Federal Prosecutor's Office, which handles counter-terrorism investigations, told AFP they are investigating the key suspect for "belonging to a terrorist organization."
German police reportedly stated on Sunday that a "witness" was arrested at a Solingen refugee center on Saturday evening. Also arrested was a 15-year-old kid for "failing to report a planned criminal act."
The Islamic State's "Amaq" news agency claimed credit for the bombing on Saturday, saying it was "in revenge for Muslims in Palestine and everywhere."
According to many German media reports, the suspect came in the nation at the end of December 2022 after being deported from Bulgaria, where he was registered and intended to seek for asylum.
On Sunday, German Vice-Chancellor Robert Habeck said the suspect was not on the security agencies' "dangerous Islamist extremists" list.
Habeck, Chancellor Olaf Scholz's coalition government's Environment Minister, branded Islamic terrorism "one of the greatest challenges to our country's security. Such perpetrators must be punished harshly."
Interior Minister Nancy Faeser visited the assault scene on Saturday and appealed for "maintaining the unity of the country," criticizing "who want to incite hatred" and avoiding division.
The political debate began quickly after the attack, which occurred a week before major regional elections in the east, where the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party leads government parties in opinion polls.
