Life imprisonment for Solingen attacker: IS sympathizer on trial!

Life imprisonment for Solingen attacker: IS sympathizer on trial!

On August 23, 2024, a brutally motivated attack shook the city festival in Solingen. 27-year-old Issa al H. was the mastermind behind the knife attack in which he killed three people and wounded another ten. The Federal Prosecutor's Office has now requested life imprisonment with a determination of the particular gravity of the guilt and subsequent preventive detention. This is reported by the Borken newspaper.

Issa al H. confessed to the crime, but initially presented himself as a victim of his Telegram chat partner. The investigation shows that he had become increasingly radicalized since the end of 2019. He initially consumed Islamist content before actively spreading propaganda himself. On the morning of the crime, he posted in a Telegram story that he was asking for forgiveness and used a knife emoji, which was interpreted as a hidden reference to his planned attack. The motive for the attack, al H. explained, was revenge for the Israeli military actions in Gaza and retaliation for the massacres of Muslims. Tagesschau reports.

Radicalization and preparations

Issa al H. prepared the attack actively and conspiratorially. Not only did he record a confessional video, but he also swore an oath of loyalty to the IS caliph. The public prosecutor described the incident as one of the most serious politically and religiously motivated attacks in Germany in recent years. A psychiatric report confirms that al H. has an enduring determination to commit acts of violence against “infidels” without showing any signs of remorse. On that fateful summer evening in Solingen, the attack lasted less than a minute and ended in a bloodbath that haunts the survivors to this day. source.

al H.'s efforts to radicalize and mobilize supporters are also reflected in his activities on social media. He was active under the code name “Samarqand Al-Kahtani” and ran several Telegram channels on which he disseminated Islamic State content. Some of these channels were specifically set up to spread militant Islamist propaganda and raise funds for wives of imprisoned IS fighters. He also published videos of Islamist songs and battle scenes, indicating a deep commitment to IS ideology. daily news.

Reactions and outlook

Although the trial began in May 2025 at the Düsseldorf Higher Regional Court, the case continues to cause great concern among both the security authorities and the population. The security situation has changed and identifying self-radicalized individuals is becoming increasingly difficult. Rainer Witt from the Federal Criminal Police Office emphasizes that the structures of terrorist organizations have become more flexible. In the case of Issa al H., there was no evidence of his murderous intentions before the crime, which has widened the gap between the perception of the security situation and reality. daily news.

The defense's plea is expected next week. A verdict could be announced as early as September 10, 2025. The events in Solingen have not only raised sadness, but also important questions about the topics of radicalization and security, which are also important beyond Germany's borders.