ReutersGerman police have arrested a second person as they investigate a stabbing attack in the western city of Solingen on Friday that killed three people and injured eight others.
A man was detained late Saturday in a building housing refugees near the site of the attack in the city center.
Meanwhile, German media reported that the suspect in the attack had surrendered to the police. Reports in Bild and Der Spiegel said he was wearing dirty, blood-stained clothes.
A 15-year-old boy was detained early Saturday in connection with a stabbing that shocked Germany. He is not the main suspect but is alleged to have been aware of the attack.
On Saturday night, North Rhine-Westphalia’s Interior Minister Herbert Reul confirmed to German television station ARD that the knife suspect had been arrested, but he did not reveal any details.
Earlier, a spokesman for the German state police where Solingen is located confirmed the second arrest at the refugee center. The spokesman did not provide details about the person.
The Bild website reported that Special Task Force (SEK) officers stormed the refugee center and arrested a suspect.
The building is said to be about 300m (984 feet) from the Fronhof, Solingen’s central market square, where someone was stabbed on Friday night.
Earlier in the day, investigators found a knife they believe was used by the attacker.
Two men, aged 56 and 67, and a 56-year-old woman were stabbed to death at a festival in what German Chancellor Olaf Scholz called a “horrible act”.
The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the attack on Saturday.
It did not immediately provide any evidence and it was unclear how closely it was related to the attacker.
The attacker reportedly stabbed passers-by at random during a festival celebrating the 650th anniversary of the industrial city of Solingen.
Police said conditions in the square following the attack were “extremely busy”, making it difficult to find the perpetrators.
They also confirmed that the attackers “targeted” people’s throats and necks.
EPA-EFE/REX/ShutterstockSolingen – a city famous for its steel industry – has approximately 160,000 inhabitants. It is located approximately 25 kilometers (15 miles) east of Dusseldorf.
Authorities in the city asked people to leave the Fronhof area following the attack at 22:00 local time (21:00 BST) on Friday.
A three-day celebration of the city’s anniversary was scheduled to be attended by about 75,000 people, but was canceled after the attack.
Solingen Mayor Tim Kurzbach later said, “Everyone in Solingen is shocked, horrified and deeply saddened.
“It breaks my heart that there has been an attack on our city. I have tears in my eyes when I think of the people we have lost.
“My prayers go out to all those who are still fighting for their lives. At the same time, my deepest sympathy goes out to everyone who has been through this, these images must be horrific.”
The entrance to the Fronhof is now guarded by police.
People brought flowers and candles to the scene of the attack that shocked the country.
The player from Germany’s top football league, the Bundesliga, wore a black armband during Saturday’s match.
