A 26-year-old man turned himself in to German police, claiming responsibility for the deadly knife attack at a festival in Solingen, which left three people dead and eight wounded.

The attack occurred during a celebration marking the city’s 650th anniversary. The suspect, previously arrested for undisclosed reasons, is under investigation. Düsseldorf police, in a joint statement with the prosecutor’s office, confirmed the man’s confession but are still probing his involvement.

The Islamic State (IS) militant group claimed responsibility for the attack, alleging it targeted Christians as retaliation for the treatment of Muslims in Palestine and elsewhere.

However, IS provided no evidence, and the claim could not be independently verified. Authorities had earlier arrested a 15-year-old boy on suspicion of knowing about the planned attack but clarified that he was not the assailant.

Witnesses overheard the boy discussing intentions matching the assault.

The attack occurred around 9:30 p.m. Friday in Solingen’s central square, where a “Festival of Diversity” was being held. The victims included two men, aged 67 and 56, and a 56-year-old woman.

The festival was canceled as police investigated the crime scene. Despite losing control over territory, IS continues to claim responsibility for global attacks, including recent incidents in Iran and Russia.

#MaltaDaily