A shocking knife attack at Hamburg’s central railway station during Friday evening rush hour has left 18 people injured, four of them critically, as Germany grapples with yet another violent incident amid rising national security concerns. Authorities arrested a 39-year-old German woman at the scene and have ruled out a political motive, citing strong evidence of mental illness.
Rush Hour Chaos in One of Germany’s Busiest Hubs
The attack occurred at approximately 6:00 PM local time between platforms 13 and 14 at the Hamburg Hauptbahnhof—one of the country’s busiest transport centers, used by over 550,000 people daily. The suspect reportedly began stabbing passengers waiting for a train, causing panic and forcing the closure of four platforms.
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Eyewitness images and videos showed emergency personnel blocking off access and treating victims directly on the platforms and even on board trains. Several ambulances were seen transporting the wounded, while Deutsche Bahn, the national rail operator, warned of delays and diversions in long-distance services.
Victims Range from Teenagers to Seniors
The Hamburg police said on Saturday that 18 people were injured in total—seven slightly, seven seriously, and four critically. The critically injured include a 24-year-old man, a 24-year-old woman, a 52-year-old woman, and an 85-year-old woman. All were reported to be in stable condition by Saturday evening. The attack was reportedly halted quickly due to the “rapid intervention” of two civilians and emergency responders, preventing further injuries.
Suspect Held Without Bail Amid Mental Health Probe
The arrested woman, a German national, appeared before a judge on Saturday and remains in custody. Police have ruled out any political or extremist motivations in the incident, instead stating there is “very concrete evidence” she was suffering from a psychological emergency. “There is no indication of a political motive or the influence of drugs or alcohol,” said police spokesperson Florian Abbenseth. Investigations by the homicide division are ongoing.
National Security Debate Intensifies
Chancellor Friedrich Merz condemned the incident as “shocking” and extended his thanks to emergency responders. In a call with Hamburg’s mayor, Merz expressed solidarity and concern as the country processes another violent episode.
Germany has witnessed a troubling surge in attacks in recent months. Just days before, four people were stabbed in a bar in Bielefeld by a Syrian suspect who allegedly expressed extremist beliefs. That case has been handed over to federal prosecutors.
Earlier this year, a stabbing in Aschaffenburg claimed two lives, while another incident in Berlin targeted a Spanish tourist. Last December, six people died when a car plowed through a Christmas market in Magdeburg. Many of the attackers in previous incidents were migrants, fuelling fierce political debate on immigration and national security.
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These attacks have placed safety high on the political agenda. February’s federal elections reflected the public mood, with Chancellor Merz’s CDU/CSU coalition topping the polls and the far-right, anti-immigration Alternative for Germany (AfD) achieving a record vote share of over 20 percent.