Germany confronts a surge in knife attacks: Public safety, mental health, and migration policies under scrutiny

Germany has been rocked by a series of violent knife attacks, with three serious incidents reported within the span of one week in May 2025. The most recent occurred on May 23 at Hamburg Central Station, where a 39-year-old woman stabbed 17 people during peak commuter hours. This followed an earlier attack in Bielefeld on May 18 and echoes the deadly Solingen stabbing spree of August 2024. Together, the events have reignited urgent national discussions around public safety, mental health intervention, and asylum policy enforcement.

What Happened During the Hamburg Knife Attack?

At approximately 6:00 p.m. on May 23, 2025, a mass stabbing unfolded at Hamburg Hauptbahnhof (Central Station), Germany’s busiest train station. According to a statement from Hamburg Police, a 39-year-old German woman carried out an unprovoked knife attack on a crowded platform, injuring 17 people. Six of the victims sustained serious injuries while the remainder were treated for less severe wounds. The attacker was subdued by police shortly after the incident began and taken into custody without resistance. Preliminary investigations suggest that the suspect acted alone and may be suffering from severe psychiatric distress. Officials have ruled out any political or extremist motivations at this stage, and a comprehensive psychological assessment has been ordered by the public prosecutor’s office.

What Occurred in the Bielefeld Stabbing on May 18?

Five days earlier, another attack unfolded in Bielefeld, North Rhine-Westphalia. A 35-year-old Syrian man assaulted a group of football fans outside a residential gathering, using a knife and a stick with a sharpened blade. Five individuals were injured, including three with life-threatening wounds. The suspect was apprehended by authorities several hours later. The Federal Prosecutor’s Office (Generalbundesanwalt) has taken over the case, citing evidence of religious or politically motivated extremism. Investigators are examining digital records and online activities to determine whether the assailant had links to radical groups. At present, no organisation has claimed responsibility for the act, but the case is being treated as potentially ideological in nature.

What Is the Link to the Solingen Attack of 2024?

These incidents follow the deadly Solingen festival attack in August 2024, in which a 26-year-old Syrian asylum seeker, Issa al Hassan, killed three people and wounded eight others during a public cultural event. German prosecutors charged al Hassan with three counts of murder, multiple counts of attempted murder, and membership in a foreign terrorist organisation. Shortly after the attack, the Islamic State claimed responsibility, saying it was in retaliation for what it termed “European aggression against Muslims.” The Solingen case had already prompted a political and legal reckoning in Germany, leading to new debates on deportation processes, asylum policy enforcement, and surveillance of individuals flagged for extremist sympathies.

What Has Chancellor Friedrich Merz Said?

In response to the latest string of attacks, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz addressed the Bundestag on May 24, 2025. He described the spate of knife attacks as “unacceptable and deeply alarming,” and pledged that his administration would introduce immediate legal measures to prevent further incidents. Merz, who took office in early 2025, confirmed his backing for a legislative package being drafted by Federal Minister of the Interior Alexander Dobrindt, who assumed office on May 6, 2025. Merz stated that “Germany must defend its public order with clarity and resolve,” and called for expedited deportation processes for foreign nationals convicted of violent crimes. He stressed that the government’s approach must balance rule-of-law enforcement with respect for due process and human dignity.

What New Security Measures Are Being Introduced?

Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt, speaking at a joint press conference with law enforcement officials, unveiled a proposed national security package aimed at preventing knife violence in public spaces. The package includes new restrictions on carrying knives at large public gatherings such as concerts, sporting events, and festivals. Dobrindt further announced that knives would be banned aboard long-distance trains, including ICE routes. He also stated that federal police would gain authority to conduct random stop-and-search operations in areas identified as high-risk for violent incidents. In addition, the proposed reforms include new provisions for the deployment of electroshock weapons (tasers) to enable non-lethal force when subduing violent suspects. These reforms are being prepared in consultation with state-level interior ministries and police agencies, and the legislation is expected to be presented in Parliament in June 2025, with the goal of enactment ahead of the summer travel season.

Are Extremism and Mental Illness Overlapping Risks?

According to the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV), Germany’s domestic intelligence agency, there is growing concern about the intersection between untreated mental illness and susceptibility to violent radicalisation. The BfV’s 2024 annual report identified a trend of “lone actor” attacks where perpetrators exhibited symptoms of psychological distress while also expressing extremist views or being exposed to radical content online. While the Hamburg suspect does not appear to have had any political or ideological motive, the Bielefeld and Solingen attackers are both being investigated under anti-terrorism statutes. In both cases, prosecutors have highlighted the need for more effective monitoring of individuals exhibiting signs of both instability and potential radicalisation.

What Are Analysts and Institutions Saying?

Security analysts have warned that Germany’s urban infrastructure—particularly its open, high-traffic transit systems—remains vulnerable to spontaneous acts of violence. Public policy scholars from the Konrad Adenauer Foundation noted that decentralised mental health care in Germany has made early intervention difficult, especially in cases involving asylum seekers or transient populations who are often disconnected from regular medical services. Human rights organisations, while supportive of increased safety, have urged the government to avoid stigmatising migrants or people with mental illness. In a statement, Amnesty International Germany said that “security measures must not come at the cost of proportionality or the erosion of civil liberties.”

What Happens Next?

Parliamentary debate on the new security package is expected to begin in early June. With the governing coalition in support and increasing pressure from the public, the legislation is likely to pass, although some provisions—such as the scope of random checks—may face legal challenges or amendments in committee. Separately, the Ministry of Health has committed to conducting a national review of psychiatric care availability and crisis response infrastructure. This includes exploring legal changes to allow earlier involuntary intervention in cases deemed dangerous to public safety. Federal prosecutors are expected to issue formal updates on the Hamburg and Bielefeld cases in the first week of June. Meanwhile, law enforcement agencies have been placed on heightened alert ahead of major summer events, including UEFA Euro 2025 matches hosted in German cities. Germany’s response to these tragedies will define how it balances open civic life with targeted security. As the nation debates legislative and healthcare reforms, the imperative remains clear: ensure that such incidents become the exception—not a recurring threat to daily life.