Solingen stabbing latest: Islamic State claims responsibility for attack as police scour city for suspect

Islamic State has claimed responsibility for the knife attack which left three dead and eight injured, shortly before police made a second arrest in connection with the stabbings.

The militant group said in a statement that the attacker was a “soldier of the Islamic State”, but provided no evidence behind the claim.

Specialist policing units entered a building which is reportedly a home for asylum seekers, and soon afterwards made the second arrest in connection with the attack.

They have not confirmed who the individual is or how they are believed to be connected to the stabbing.

The large-scale manhunt was launched last night for the knifeman, who started attacking people shortly after 9.30pm on Friday as thousands gathered at the central square in Solingen, west Germany, for a festival to mark the city’s 650 ^th anniversary.

On Saturday, special police units joined the search for an unknown knifeman.

A 15 year old boy was detained earlier today after he was seen speaking with the perpetrator of the attack moments before it was carried out, police said in a press conference.

Counterterrorism officer Markus Caspers said an investigation into the motive is ongoing, but that the “overall circumstances” show that terrorism “cannot be ruled out”.

The three people who died were a 67-year-old man, a 56-year-old man and a 56-year-old woman. Eight people were injured, including four “very seriously”.