The Syrian asylum seeker suspected of carrying out the deadly stabbing attack at a “festival of diversity” in Solingen, Germany, had previously been ordered to be deported, but authorities failed to follow through.
The suspect, 26-year-old Issa Al H., had a scheduled deportation in 2023, intended to return him to Bulgaria, where he first entered the European Union.
Under the Dublin regulations, asylum claims are typically processed in the first EU country of entry.
However, Issa Al H. disappeared from his residence in Paderborn before the deportation could be carried out.
When he resurfaced months later, instead of being deported, he was granted “subsidiary protection,” a status often given to people from countries experiencing civil wars. He was then moved to a refugee center in Solingen, where the attack later occurred.
The so-called Islamic State (ISIS) claimed responsibility for the attack, labeling it an act of revenge against Christians for the suffering of Muslims in Palestine and other places.
Witnesses reported that the attacker shouted “Allahu Akbar” during the assault, and the attack specifically targeted the necks of the victims. The incident resulted in three deaths and several injuries, including four people with life-threatening wounds.
