The man accused of stabbing a festival in the German city of Solingen has appeared in court on charges of murder and terrorism, pleading guilty at the start of his trial.
Three people were killed in the attack on August 23 at a Diversity Festival marking the 650th anniversary of the western German city.
The Syrian man, known under German privacy laws as Issa Al H, was detained the day after the incident.
At a court hearing in Düsseldorf, he was charged with three counts of murder, ten counts of attempted murder and for participating in a foreign terrorist organization called the Islamic State (IS).
There are no formal statements under the German legal system. However, the accused admitted responsibility for the attack in a statement released by his defense, German news agency dpa reported.
“I have taken upon myself a grave guilt. I am ready to accept punishment,” he said.
“I killed innocent people, not infidels.”
The attack in Solingen was one of several deadly incidents in the months leading up to Germany's national elections in February involving suspected immigrants, bringing the issue of migration to the forefront of the political agenda in the elections.
This highlights the difficulties associated with returning people whose asylum requests have been rejected to the first EU country through which they arrived, as required by EU rules.
The accused was due to be deported to Bulgaria in 2023, but reportedly disappeared for some time and evaded deportation.
In Germany, the maximum penalty for murder is life imprisonment.
The court in Düsseldorf has scheduled hearings until the end of September.
Sourse: breakingnews.ie
