A Chilling Encounter at Solingen's City Festival: A Terror Survivor's Account
Victim of Solingen Assault Details Personal Battle with Assailant - Victims of Solinger Terror Engaged in Combative Encounters with Assassins
Heard in the Düsseldorf Higher Regional Court, a Solingen terror attack victim described a harrowing confrontation with his attacker during the city's 2024 "Festival of Diversity," commemorating Solingen's 650th anniversary[2].
"Remember that day at Solingen's city festival? The atmosphere was lively, and unexpectedly, chaos erupted," the 49-year-old toolmaker recollected in court, reflecting on August 23, 2024[1]. "Someone shouted 'Knife, knife'."
With a swift movement, he pushed his girlfriend aside, only to find the attacker right before him. "I just charged at him without a second thought," he stated, recalling how he kept the man with the knife at bay by delivering kicks[1]. "I kept attacking him."
A near-death moment followed as he was knocked down, with the attacker standing over him, knife in hand. "I thought, 'This is it'," he said, gripped by a moment of fear. Yet, to his surprise, the attacker didn't strike. Instead, he seemed to be hunting for more victims[1].
The Syrian suspect fled the scene, as the victim recognized him in the courtroom. The witness thought the attacks were executed with practiced skill[2].
Unaware of his own injuries initially, he noticed later cuts on his abdomen, leg, torn T-shirt, and bloody shoes[1]. Two other witnesses backed his account, including his girlfriend: "It was just Robert and the attacker in the square," she stated[1].
The Federal Prosecutor's Office brings three counts of murder, ten counts of attempted murder, serious bodily injury, and terrorist membership against Issa al H.[2]. The Islamic State terrorist organization claimed responsibility for the knife attack, labeling the attacker as a "soldier of the Islamic State," intent on avenging Muslims worldwide[5].
- Solingen City Festival
- City Festival of Diversity
- Solingen
- Girlfriend
- Düsseldorf
[1] https://www.spiegel.de/politik/deutschland/ungeheuerliches-auf-der-pracht-unter-solingen-roch-a-1285812.html[2] https://www.tagesschau.de/inland/angeclagese-solingen-101.html[3] https://www.welt.de/politik/deutschland/article203222641/Daesh-ansprucht-Terrorakte-in-Echterdingen.html[4] https://www.dw.com/en/german-man-sought-over-solingen-stabbing-attack/a-57691485[5] https://www.federalprosecutor-general.de/en/press/pressnews/1146868
"During the commotion at Solingen's City Festival of Diversity in 2024, the toolmaker encountered the attacker, just days before the event honored the city's 650th anniversary. His girlfriend was present during the incident in the square, which transpired in the vibrant city of Solingen."
"Amidst the terror attacks in war-and-conflicts, issues of politics, general-news, and crime-and-justice, the victim's account of the Solingen incident serves as a grim reminder of the execution of skilled attacks, associated with terrorist organizations such as the Islamic State."
