Knife attacks in Wangen: Ex-police officer calls for radical measures!

Knife attacks in Wangen: Ex-police officer calls for radical measures!

In the early morning hours of June 28, 2025, a 27-year-old convicted criminal attacked police officers with a knife in Wangen, Göppingen district, Baden-Württemberg. The incident ended tragically when the attacker seriously injured one of the officers before emergency services opened fire. Despite immediate attempts at resuscitation, the 27-year-old died at the scene. This incident has sparked a new wave of discussion about police violence, migration and trust in the rule of law. Ex-police officer Tom Herzing calls for an urgent response to the increasing number of knife attacks and addresses the challenges that police officers have to overcome in such critical situations, in particular the immense pressure of having to make decisions in seconds.

In the past few months, the police in Baden-Württemberg have had to use their firearms seven times, mostly in attacks with knives or axes. The incident in Wangen is not isolated, but part of a worrying development that can also be observed in other parts of Germany. While the use of firearms is considered appropriate in Switzerland, the German police are often faced with lengthy procedures regarding the circumstances of the operations. Herzing also emphasizes the need for realistic police training to be better prepared for knife attacks and warns against unrealistic disarmament techniques.

Statistical uncertainties regarding knife violence

Another central topic in the current debate is the statistics on knife violence. In Germany, the police and judiciary collect data on suspects, but there is a lack of comprehensive information on court rulings in knife attacks. The Federal Ministry of Justice has confirmed that nationwide statistics on this do not exist. In Bavaria, for example, only those who have been tried and convicted are recorded in the criminal prosecution statistics, without these being evaluated according to the modalities of the offense such as the instrument used. BR reports that official statistics have been counting knife attacks since 2020, but without in-depth analysis of the nationality of the perpetrators.

Experts have found that there is no causal connection between knife violence and the nationality of perpetrators. A study by the Central Criminological Office from 2022 shows that no significant difference in the crime rate between German and non-German citizens was found among convicted people in Rhineland-Palatinate. The influence of the media on perceptions of knife crime is also significant; Reporting often focuses selectively on specific incidents, particularly those involving immigrants or refugees, which can promote a distorted view of the actual situation.

Social challenges and prevention

Herzing is planning a specialist book in which he analyzes real cases of knife attacks and presents protective strategies. He appeals to society to take the problem of knife attacks seriously as a structural phenomenon and to take appropriate preventive measures. The discourse about migration and crime is a sensitive topic that affects not only public institutions, but society as a whole. The situation requires a differentiated discussion in order to counteract the stigmatization of entire groups and to actually develop effective solutions.

Overall, it is clear that the issue of knife violence in Germany poses major challenges for both the police and society. Only through open discussions and appropriate measures can trust in the rule of law be strengthened again.