Hamburg Central Station knife attack: 18 Injured, Suspect arrested

According to police, a 39-year-old German woman injured several people with a knife, some of them very seriously, at Hamburg Central Station on Friday evening. The police reported early Saturday morning that a total of 18 people were injured. Four people suffered life-threatening injuries, the fire department said. German police said the woman was arrested without resistance. There were no indications of a political motive, but it was being investigated whether the woman had been in an exceptional mental state.

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As per the information from the police, the homicide squad began investigations, in particular into the course of the crime and the motives of the suspects. The investigation is still ongoing. The suspect is in police custody and is to be brought before a magistrate. The police assume that the suspect acted alone. “So far, we have no indications that the woman may have acted with political motivation,” said police spokesman Florian Abbenseth on ARD. However, there are “initial findings on the basis of which we are examining in particular whether the woman could have been in an exceptional mental state”, he later explained in the online service X.

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Police say the attack took place on a train platform. The woman had “apparently stabbed passers-by indiscriminately”. Shortly afterwards, she was quickly “arrested without resistance” by police officers. The knife was confiscated. The incident triggered a large-scale operation by the emergency services, fire department and police. According to the spokesperson, 63 rescue and emergency personnel from the fire department were on site.

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Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) expressed his dismay at the news in a telephone conversation with the Mayor of Hamburg, Peter Tschentscher (SPD). The Chancellor's thoughts were “with the victims and their families”, announced government spokesman Stefan Kornelius in Berlin. Tschentscher had informed the Chancellor about the care of the injured and the situation on the ground. The Chancellor thanked all the emergency services on the scene for their rapid assistance and offered the Mayor the support of the Federal Government.

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“My thoughts are with the victims of the knife attack in Hamburg,” said Federal Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt (CSU). "It is shocking when travelers are attacked in a sneaky and cowardly manner. A big thank you goes to the police, emergency services and helpers on the scene." Former Hamburg mayor and ex-chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) said on X that the news from Hamburg “shocks us all deeply”. Many people had become victims of “an incomprehensible act”. His thoughts were “with the injured, their families and those who are currently fighting for their lives”, he added. He expressed his “deep gratitude” to the emergency services.

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French President Emmanuel Macron also said on X: "We share the pain of the German people, to whom I express our solidarity and friendship this evening."
Deutsche Bahn announced on the online service X that tracks 11 to 14 at Hamburg Central Station are currently closed due to the ongoing police operation. There are delays and detour in long-distance traffic. "We are deeply shocked by the act of violence in the early evening. Our thoughts and sympathy are with the injured," Deutsche Bahn said late in the evening.