Germany to Tighten Knife Laws After Attack

Following a deadly knife attack in Solingen that left three dead and eight injured, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz announced plans to implement stricter knife laws and increase deportations of rejected asylum seekers. The suspected attacker, a 26-year-old Syrian national with alleged ties to the Islamic State, turned himself in after fleeing the scene. Scholz expressed his anger over the incident, labeling it as 'terrorism against us all' and emphasized the urgency to tighten regulations on knife carrying, proposing to reduce the maximum blade length from 12 centimeters to 6 centimeters. He acknowledged that deportations have risen by 30 percent this year but stressed that further measures are needed to ensure those who cannot stay in Germany are returned to their home countries. The attack has intensified debates surrounding migration policies and has been seized upon by far-right parties in the lead-up to upcoming state elections. Scholz's government is under pressure to address these issues amid rising political tensions and criticism over its handling of migration.