The Islamic State (ISIS) group claimed responsibility for a deadly knife attack that took place during a festival in Solingen, Germany, on Friday. The attack resulted in three deaths and eight injuries, five of which are in serious condition, according to local authorities. The assault occurred in the heart of the city during a “Diversity Festival” celebrating the 650th anniversary of Solingen’s founding.
ISIS, through its propaganda arm Amaq, stated that one of its members carried out the attack as an act of retaliation for perceived injustices against Muslims in Palestine and elsewhere. The assailant, described by witnesses as a man “looking Arab” remains at large as German police continue their search and investigation.
The attack unfolded in a crowded square in Solingen, where festival-goers were gathered in front of a stage. The assailant reportedly began stabbing people indiscriminately, prompting chaos and panic. The police in Düsseldorf, the capital of North Rhine-Westphalia, confirmed the casualties and stated that the investigation is ongoing, with forensic teams and witness interviews being conducted.
This incident is part of a pattern of attacks by ISIS in Europe, reminiscent of previous assaults in Germany, including the 2016 bombing in Ansbach by a Syrian refugee who had pledged allegiance to the group. ISIS has also claimed responsibility for attacks in other European countries such as France, Belgium, and the UK.
The attack in Solingen comes at a time when Germany is actively prosecuting individuals with ties to “extremist groups,” particularly those accused of crimes in Syria. Next month, three Syrian nationals are scheduled to go on trial in Munich on charges of belonging to ISIS and committing war crimes during the Syrian conflict. The charges include forced displacement, crimes against civilians, and other serious offenses tied to their involvement with the group’s activities in Syria.
One of the defendants is alleged to have been a founder of the Jund al-Rahman Brigade, an armed faction active in Syria in 2013, which later merged with ISIS. The trial, set to span 29 days, is a significant case in Germany’s ongoing efforts to hold accountable those involved in “extremist violence” abroad. The court is expected to deliver its verdict December 2024.
Germany has seen a series of arrests of individuals suspected of affiliation with ISIS and other extremist groups. In September 2023, German authorities arrested two Syrians linked to a 2013 massacre in Hatla, Syria, that resulted in over 60 deaths. The arrests are part of a German strategy to prosecute those involved in international terrorism and war crimes, often in cooperation with Syrian civil society organizations.
While ISIS remains a threat in many regions, particularly through such lone-wolf attacks in Europe, its influence in northern Syria has been significantly curtailed. Security operations by local authorities in the liberated areas of northern Syria have largely succeeded in reducing ISIS activity, bringing a measure of stability to those regions in regards to the group’s attacks.
As Germany grapples with the threat of domestic terrorism inspired by international extremist groups, the recent attack in Solingen indicates the persistent danger posed by ISIS and the ongoing challenge of preventing such acts of violence.
 group claimed responsibility for a deadly knife attack that took place during a festival in Solingen, Germany, on Friday.){kind=link}