The knife attack, claimed by the Islamic State (IS), occurred last Friday and involved a 26-year-old Syrian man who randomly stabbed passersby during the “Festival of Diversity,” which celebrated the 650th anniversary of Solingen’s founding.

Two men aged 67 and 56, and a 56-year old woman, were killed in the rampage.

Following the attack, Habeck stated that it is crucial to quickly determine “whether there is a network, or if this ISIS claim can be interpreted as indicating that there are other terrorist structures in Germany that need to be uncovered and dismantled.”

“There should be no tolerance for terrorism, Islamism, and attacks on life and freedom,” he said.

Habeck expressed condolences to the victims of the attack and their families, and also called for tightening weapons regulations in Germany.

“We are no longer living in the Middle Ages. In Germany, no one needs to carry stabbing or cutting weapons in public places,” the Vice Chancellor was quoted as saying by the German news agency, Deutsche Presse Agentur (dpa).

“If the perpetrators were in Germany seeking protection under the right to asylum, they lose that right. We do not want such people here,” Habeck added.