As second suspect is arrested, Islamic State claims responsibility for German festival attack.

On Friday, three people were killed and eight others were injured in a deadly stabbing spree at a festival in Germany. The Islamic State group took responsibility for the attack.

The attacker, who was a "soldier of the Islamic State," targeted Christians and carried out the attack "to avenge Muslims in Palestine and everywhere."

The German police previously stated that there was no discernible reason other than terror for the attack and that the assailant seemed to be unfamiliar to the victims.

Authorities announced the arrest of a second individual, in addition to a 15-year-old boy, in relation to the attack on Late Saturday.

In Solingen, a home for refugees was the location of the arrest of the second suspect in an attack. The suspect's name, age, and role in the attack have not been disclosed by authorities.

The 15-year-old boy, who was previously stated by authorities to have knowledge of the attack but did not inform them, has now been clarified as not being the attacker.

A 15-year-old boy was arrested following two female witnesses' contact with police, who reported having heard a conversation between the boy and an unknown person prior to the attack, discussing intentions that aligned with the subsequent events.

At approximately 9:35 p.m. local time on Friday, the victims were in front of a stage enjoying a live music band playing to commemorate the town's 650-year anniversary when the attack occurred.

The three victims of the attack were two men aged 67 and 56, and a 56-year-old woman, according to authorities. The police stated that the attacker seemed to have targeted the victims' throats intentionally.

The German police, led by Thorsten Fleiss, chief of operations on Friday night, is conducting searches and investigations across North Rhine-Westphalia state, which will continue until the end of the day.

On Saturday, the police cordoned off the square, prompting passers-by to place candles and flowers outside the barriers.

Last night, Chancellor Olaf Scholz wrote that the incident was a "shocking event" that greatly affected him.

The perpetrator must be swiftly apprehended and punished to the fullest extent of the law for brutally killing several people, as Scholz wrote.

The city's mayor, Tim Kurzbach, expressed "shock" in a translated social media post following the attack.

"Tonight, we are all in Solingen, feeling shocked, frightened, and deeply saddened. We had planned to celebrate our city anniversary together, but now we must mourn the fallen and injured. The assassination attack on our town has broken my heart."

Earlier this month, the German government announced plans to tighten knife carrying rules in public places due to the infrequency of fatal stabbings and shootings.

In May, an Afghan migrant carried out a stabbing spree in Mannheim, Germany, injuring an anti-Islam activist and several others, including a police officer who died. Days later, a member of the German right-wing party Alternative for Germany (AfD) was stabbed in the city while campaigning for the election.

The upcoming state elections in Thuringia, Saxony, and Brandenburg could see the Alternative for Germany (AfD) emerge victorious, with a potential for violence.

A top AfD candidate for one of the state elections, Bjoern Hoecke, seized on Friday's attack and posted on X: "Do you really want to get used to this? Free yourselves and end this insanity of forced multiculturalism."

Reuters and the Associated Press contributed to this report.