German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has pledged to speed up the deportation of undocumented refugees in the wake of Friday's deadly attack in Solingen, which sparked a fierce debate on migration and security policy ahead of key regional elections.
The main suspect in the knife assault, which resulted in three deaths and eight injuries at a local festival last Friday, is a 26-year-old Syrian alleged to have ties with the Islamic State terror group.
Following a 24 hour manhunt, the suspect surrendered to the authorities and admitted responsibility for the crime.
Visiting the scene, the German leader committed to swiftly tightening weapons laws and doing “everything possible” to deport those “who cannot and should not remain in Germany.”
He also expressed his “anger” at the “act of terrorism against us all,” and denounced the “Islamists threatening our peaceful coexistence.”
Floral tributes, candles, and messages reflect the wave of emotion that has swept the city of some 160,000 residents located in the western state of North Rhine-Westphalia.
