Chancellor Scholz promises tougher stance on deportations after Solingen attack

Chancellor Olaf Scholz pledged on Monday to step up deportations and reduce irregular immigration during a visit to the city of Solingen, where three people were killed in a mass knife attack over the weekend.

“It was terrorism, terrorism against all of us,” Scholz told reporters in the western city after laying a flower at the scene of the attack in memory of the victims.

The attack, which investigators believe was carried out by a suspected Islamic State member from Syria, has fueled political tensions over asylum and deportation rules as well as violent crime ahead of three regional elections next month.

(With contributions from agencies.)