Solingen (dpa)
German federal prosecutors have taken over the investigation into a knife attack in the western city of Solingen that left three people dead and others severely wounded.
Police said on Saturday night that a suspect had handed himself in and admitted responsibility for the attack.
A spokeswoman for the prosecutor's office told dpa on Sunday that it was investigating the suspect.
Police in Dusseldorf said on Sunday morning that the suspect is a 26-year-old. He was wearing blood-stained clothing when he handed himself in, dpa was told by a source in the police.
According to the Spiegel magazine, the suspect came to Germany at the end of December 2022 and applied for asylum.
The suspect was flown to Karlsruhe by helicopter before being brought barefoot by heavily armed officers to a police escort.
He is later expected to be brought before an investigating judge. Germany's Federal Court of Justice (BGH) in Karlsruhe must decide whether the man will be remanded in custody on charges including murder.
The attack took place on Friday evening at a market square in the city centre where a stage was set up for live music during the Festival of Diversity, which was being thrown to celebrate Solingen's 650th anniversary.
Those killed in the attack were two men, aged 67 and 56, and a 56-year-old woman.
Hopes raised for seriously injured
Eight people were wounded, four of them seriously, according to local police chief Thorsten Fleiss. The attacker apparently chose his victims at random but appeared to target their necks, Fleiss said.
"All four patients have a very good chance of making a full recovery," said Thomas Standl, medical director at the Solingen Municipal Hospital, to Welt TV.
On Saturday, senior public prosecutor Markus Caspers said that authorities are still trying to piece together what happened.
A city in mourning
The crime scene in the city centre remained cordoned off on Sunday morning and several police cars were still on the scene.
Around 100 people are expected to join a memorial vigil for the victims at 5 pm (1500 GMT) on Sunday, according to an alliance of civic organisations organising the tribute.
The mayor of Solingen, Tim Kurzbach, said on Saturday evening that "the pain is infinitely large" in the city following the attack.
"We in Solingen are deeply affected, our city is full of grief. But not being alone in this grief is a good sign," said Kurzbach.
In addition to the emergency services, he also wanted to thank many people from all over Germany and from abroad for their expressions of sympathy. He said he received condolences from all over the world.
Chancellor Olaf Scholz called the attack a "terrible crime" and urged that the perpetrator be severely punished. He also pledged assistance to the city.