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SOLINGEN, Germany (AP) — German constabulary said early Sunday that a 26-year-old man turned himself in, claiming to beryllium down nan deadly Solingen weapon attack that near 3 dormant and 8 wounded astatine a show marking nan city’s 650th anniversary.
Düsseldorf constabulary said successful a associated connection pinch nan prosecutor’s agency that nan man “stated that he was responsible for nan attack,” adding he had been arrested before, but didn’t supply details. “This person’s engagement successful nan crime is presently being intensively investigated,” nan connection said.
On Saturday nan Islamic State militant group claimed work for nan attack, without providing evidence. The extremist group said connected its news tract that nan attacker targeted Christians and that he carried retired nan assaults Friday nighttime “to avenge Muslims successful Palestine and everywhere.” The declare couldn’t beryllium independently verified.
Officials had earlier said a 15-year-old boy was arrested connected suspicion he knew astir nan planned onslaught and grounded to pass authorities, but that he was not nan attacker. Two female witnesses told constabulary they overheard nan boy and an chartless personification earlier nan onslaught speaking astir intentions that corresponded to nan bloodshed, officials said.
People alerted constabulary soon aft 9:30 p.m. section clip Friday that a man had assaulted respective group pinch a weapon connected nan city’s cardinal square, nan Fronhof. The 3 group killed were 2 men aged 67 and 56 and a 56-year-old woman, authorities said. Police said nan attacker appeared to person deliberately aimed for his victims’ throats.
Solingen, a metropolis of astir 160,000 residents adjacent nan bigger cities of Cologne and Düsseldorf, was holding a “Festival of Diversity” to observe its anniversary. It began Friday and was expected to tally done Sunday, pinch respective stages successful cardinal streets offering attractions specified arsenic unrecorded music, cabaret and acrobatics. The onslaught took spot successful beforehand of 1 stage.
The show was canceled arsenic constabulary looked for clues successful nan cordoned-off square.
The IS militant group declared its caliphate successful ample parts of Iraq and Syria astir a decade ago, but now holds nary power complete immoderate onshore and has mislaid galore salient leaders. The group is mostly retired of world news headlines.
Still, it continues to enlistee members and declare work for deadly attacks astir nan world, including lethal operations successful Iran and Russia earlier this twelvemonth that killed dozens of people. Its sleeper cells successful Syria and Iraq still transportation retired attacks connected authorities forces successful some countries arsenic good arsenic U.S.-backed Syrian fighters.