Solingen stabbing latest: Police make second arrest as IS claim responsibility

We have got the first sighting of the person arrested as part of the police investigation into the Solingen stabbing attacks.

German police have not confirmed what the detainee’s connection to the attacks is.

Police have made a second arrest after three people were killed in a knife attack at a Solingen music festival, a spokesperson confirmed.

It follows a police operation in which they entered a home for refugees in a central area of the city.

Police will not provide any more detail on the individual or how they are believed to be connected to the incident.

It is not clear whether this marks the conclusion of the manhunt.

Earlier, German police said they had accessed a building during their search for the knifeman.

They have raided a home for asylum seekers in Solingen’s city centre, German news agency DPA reported.

“We have received tips and therefore we are currently conducting police activities,” a spokesperson said.

The attack took place in Solingen, a city in western of Germany with 160,000 residents, located near the bigger cities of Cologne and Duesseldorf.

The ‘Festival of Diversity’ to mark the city’s 650th anniversary began on Friday and was due to held until Sunday, with several stages in central streets offering attractions such as live music, cabaret and acrobatics.

The attack, at around 9.40pm on Friday, took place in the crowd in front of one stage.

German police have said they are accessing a building as part of their manhunt for the Solingen knifeman.

It has not been confirmed whether the attacker is inside, or what the purpose of the entry is.

We’ll keep you updated on the latest as German police search for the assailant.

Islamic State has claimed responsibility for the knife attack in Solingen which killed three people and injured eight more on Friday,

The militant group said it carried out the attack “in revenge for Muslims in Palestine and everywhere”, in a statement on its Telegram account.

It said the attacker was a “soldier of the Islamic State” who deliberately targeted a “Christian gathering”.

It has not provided evidence for this claim, and it has not been made clear how close a relationship there was between the knifeman and Islamic State, if any.

The police manhunt for the attacker continues.

A terorrist motive behind last night’s stabbing attack has not been ruled out, police confirmed.

They are still exploring all lines of investigation.

Police are in discussions with the public prosecutors office, but say this will be moved to the federal prosecutors office if a terrorist-related motive is determined.

They can not provide any more specifics on the investigation for “tactical” reasons, but they confirmed that the detained 15-year-old has not been charged.

Hendrik Wüst, the premier of the state of North Rhine-Westfalia, has described the knife attack as an “act of terror against the security and freedom of this country”.

“This attack has hit our country in the heart. This attack was intended to spread terror, terror among people who are celebrating together,” he said during a visit to Solingen, a city rocked by grief.

Three people have been killed and four are currently fighting for their lives in hospital, police said earlier.

A reminder of the key information shared by German police at a lunchtime press conference:

A 15-year-old, who was allegedly seen speaking to the attacker moments before the Solingen stabbings, has been detainedPolice have not ruled out a terrorism motive behind the attack – but the motive is still being investigatedThe three people who died were a 67-year-old man, 56 year-old man and a 56-year-old womanMultiple knives have been recovered, but police do not know which, if any, were used in the attackFour people are “very seriously” injured and continue to fight for their livesVictims and witnesses are being offered counselling and support from specialist police teams