A Syrian asylum seeker has pleaded guilty to killing three people and wounding 10 others in a knife attack at a festival in Germany last year.
Issa Al Hasan, 27, admitted his guilt as his trial began at the higher regional court in Düsseldorf.
The attack, which took place at a street festival celebrating the western city of Solingen's 650th anniversary in August 2024, was later claimed by the Islamic State group.
Hasan appeared in court behind a protective glass screen under police guard.
Issa Al Hasan admitted guilt on the first day of his trial
Getty/Reuters
Prosecutors allege Hasan targeted "nonbelievers" at what was described as a "festival for diversity" in Solingen.
He is accused of seeing his victims "as representatives of Western society" and seeking revenge for "military actions of Western states".
The Islamic State later claimed responsibility via its Amaq outlet on Telegram, stating that an "IS soldier" had carried out the attack in "revenge" for Muslims "in Palestine and everywhere".
Prosecutors say Hasan filmed videos pledging allegiance to IS and forwarded them to an IS contact just before committing the attack.
In a statement read out by his lawyer, Hasan admitted having "committed a grave crime" and acknowledged his responsibility for the deaths.
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The Syrian national suspected of stabbing to death three people at a festival in the German city of Solingen
Reuters
"Three people died at my hands. I seriously injured others," Hasan said. "Some of them survived only by luck. They could have died, too."
He told the court he bore "heavy guilt" and had "killed innocent people," adding that he "deserved and expected a life sentence."
Hasan also offered an apology to the relatives of the victims, stating: "Christians, Jews and Muslims, we all are cousins, not enemies."
The attack sent shockwaves through Germany and fuelled an ongoing debate on asylum policy. Hasan had been slated for deportation that failed on organisational grounds, which sparked controversy over immigration controls.
The Syrian national suspected of stabbing to death three people at a festival in the German city of Solingen in 2024
Reuters
Then chancellor Olaf Scholz lays a flower at the scene
Getty
Following the incident, then-Chancellor Olaf Scholz described it as a "terrible crime" and his ruling coalition quickly agreed on a "security package" providing for quicker deportations, more supervision for potential threats to public safety and additional spaces in pre-deportation detention centres.
The case paved the way for a crackdown on migration in Germany, with the new government closing borders to undocumented migrants and vowing to increase deportations.
The Solingen attack was one of several similar incidents that shocked Germany in recent months. In May 2024, a man attacked an anti-Islam rally in Mannheim, fatally wounding a police officer.
In December, a Saudi man allegedly drove through a Christmas market crowd, killing six people, while in January, a knife attack at a kindergarten killed a two-year-old boy.
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