German Chancellor Olaf Scholz announced on Monday that his government would intensify efforts to deport illegal immigrants following a violent stabbing attack over the weekend in Solingen, a city located north of Cologne. The attack resulted in three deaths and eight injuries, with victims being stabbed in the neck and upper body, according to regional authorities.
On Saturday night, police arrested a 26-year-old man who confessed to the attack. The suspect, identified as Assa Al H., a Syrian national, turned himself in and claimed responsibility. His name was not disclosed due to German privacy laws. The arrest warrant revealed that Al H. adhered to the radical Islamist ideology of the Islamic State group, which also claimed responsibility for the attack. Al H. reportedly sought to kill as many non-believers as possible due to his extremist beliefs.
In response to the attack, Chancellor Scholz labeled it a terrorist act and pledged to prevent similar incidents in the future. He criticized Islamic extremists for threatening the harmony among Jews, Christians, and peaceful Muslims. Scholz emphasized that his government would take robust action against Islamic extremists. Interior Minister Nancy Faeser added that the government would specifically target and deport dangerous and violent illegal immigrants from Syria and Afghanistan.
For more details, read my report in The Sift about Congressional Republicans’ criticism of the Biden administration for allegedly allowing potential terrorists to enter the United States through the southern border.