Knife attack at Hamburg Central Station: Six seriously injured!

Knife attack at Hamburg Central Station: Six seriously injured!

On the evening of May 23, 2025, there was a serious knife attack in Hamburg Central Station. A 39-year-old woman injured several passers-by between 6:05 p.m. and 6:30 p.m., which resulted in a large number of police and rescue workers. The attacker stabbed passengers at random on a platform between tracks 13 and 14, leaving six people critically injured, three seriously injured and three slightly injured. Police initially did not release an exact number of injuries, but were later able to confirm the injuries were critical. Thanks to the officers' quick intervention, the attacker was overpowered and arrested on site. The federal police assume it was an isolated crime, but a motive for the crime is still unknown. The investigation into the background is in full swing.

Hamburg Central Station is a busy transport hub and the incident led to significant restrictions on rail traffic. Tracks 13 and 14 were closed and there were delays and diversions for long-distance traffic. Exterior areas between Hühnerposten and Steintor were largely cordoned off, while the streets Steintorbrücke and Steintordamm were closed to traffic. Stairs to the tracks remained blocked while service staff looked after travelers at the main station. Deutsche Bahn expressed dismay at the incident and assured that the safety of passengers is its top priority.

Increase in knife attacks in Germany

The tragedy in Hamburg once again highlights the increasing number of knife attacks in Germany. There have been several similar incidents in recent months. In Bielefeld, for example, people were critically injured in front of a bar, and in Bremen there was a knife attack in which a man was seriously injured. Another tragic example is the death of a 17-year-old Afghan man in Schwerin who was stabbed. In Aschaffenburg, too, a suspected mentally ill Afghan attacked children and passers-by, resulting in several injuries and deaths. This trend towards violence is worrying and was recorded in the 2024 police crime statistics.

According to the Police Crime Statistics (PKS) 2024, violent crime in Germany rose by 1.5% to a total of 217,277 cases, which is the highest level since 2007. What is particularly alarming is the increase in knife attacks that have been recorded since the introduction of the new statistics. In 2024, 29,014 knife attacks were recorded, of which 54.3% were recorded in violent crime. These figures represent an urgent call to review the security situation in Germany.

Carrying weapons, including knives, is prohibited on public transport and especially in Hamburg Central Station. Despite this regulation, the city is not spared from acts of violence. The authorities now have a responsibility to review safety precautions and inform the public about emergency procedures and rules of conduct in dangerous situations.