The Islamic State militant group has claimed responsibility for a knife attack in Solingen, Germany, that killed three people and wounded eight more at a crowded festival marking the city’s 650th anniversary.

The Islamic State militant group on Saturday claimed responsibility for a knife attack that killed three people and wounded eight more at a crowded festival marking this city’s 650th anniversary.

The extremist group said on its news site that the attacker targeted Christians and that as a “soldier of the Islamic State” he carried out the assaults Friday night “to avenge Muslims in Palestine and everywhere.”

The IS claim couldn’t immediately be verified. It provided no evidence for its assertions.