Latest attack in Solingen: 26-year-old man allegedly murdered three people and injured eight at festival

German prosecutors have released the name of the man suspected of carrying out a knife attack at a folk festival that left three people dead and eight injured.

The Syrian citizen was listed as Issa Al H., his last name was omitted for reasons of German data protection law.

He is suspected of being a member of the Islamic State and is being investigated for triple murder, attempted murder and eight counts of grievous bodily harm.

Prosecutors said he tried to kill as many people as possible, whom he considered infidels, by repeatedly stabbing them in the neck and upper body, “due to his radical Islamic beliefs.”

The tragedy occurred at a festival in Solingen's central square, the Fronhof, where thousands had gathered for a celebration.

The festival of diversity, celebrating the city's 650th anniversary, began on Friday and is scheduled to last until Sunday. Live music, cabaret and acrobatics will be offered on several stages in the central streets.

Solingen has about 160,000 inhabitants and is located near the major cities of Cologne and Düsseldorf.

The rest of the festival was cancelled in mourning over the tragedy. Flowers, candles and messages were left near the site of the attack.

A 26-year-old man has turned himself in to police, claiming he was responsible for the knife attack in Solingen that left three people dead and eight injured, German authorities said on Sunday.

In a joint statement by the Düsseldorf police and the public prosecutor's office, it was said that the man “stated that he was responsible for the attack”.

“This person’s involvement in the crime is currently being intensively investigated,” the statement said.

The Federal Prosecutor's Office said it was investigating on suspicion of murder, attempted murder and membership in a foreign terrorist organization.

The suspect was taken from the Solingen police station on Sunday afternoon and initially brought before a judge at the Federal Court of Justice in Karlsruhe.

The attack came amid debate over immigration ahead of next Sunday's state elections in Saxony and Thuringia, where anti-immigration parties such as the populist Alternative for Germany are expected to do well, according to the Associated Press.

In June, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz announced that the country would resume deporting criminals from Afghanistan and Syria after a police officer was killed and four other people were injured in a knife attack by an Afghan immigrant.

The attack raised fears that Europe could face another wave of terrorist attacks. A synagogue in France was the victim of an arson attack on Saturday. French police said they had made one arrest early Sunday.

According to Reuters, a suspect in connection with the stabbing at a folk festival in Solingen, western Germany, was handed over to the Federal Prosecutor General in Karlsruhe.

Images that have emerged show the suspect being led out of a helicopter, flanked by uniformed officers.

A 26-year-old Syrian turned himself in to police late Saturday and claimed to be behind the gruesome stabbing.

The Federal Prosecutor's Office announced that it was investigating a suspect on suspicion of murder, attempted murder and membership in a foreign terrorist organization.

He is scheduled to appear in court for the first time later Sunday.