German police say Syrian suspect confesses to knife rampage

SOLINGEN, Germany: A Syrian man suspected of belonging to a “terrorist group” has given himself up and confessed to killing three people and wounding eight others in a knife rampage at a German street festival, officials said on Sunday.

The random attack as thousands of people gathered on Friday night in the western city of Solingen has stunned Germany.

Two men aged 56 and 67 and a 56-year-old woman were killed, officials said.

Four of the wounded remained in a serious condition. All of the victims were stabbed in the neck, according to police.

Police said in a statement that the suspect was a 26-year-old Syrian who had “given himself up to authorities... and declared himself responsible for the attack”.

German prosecutors said they had launched a “terrorist” investigation and ordered on Sunday the pre-trial detention of the man, who is suspected of belonging to a “terrorist group”.

The suspect identified as “Syrian national Issa Al H” will be detained over “strong suspicions of belonging to a terrorist group abroad” as well as of murder and attempted murder, the prosecutor´s office said in a statement.