In the wake of a knife attack at Hamburg Central Station that left 18 people injured, Germany’s two major police unions are calling for a significant boost in surveillance measures and law enforcement resources.
The incident occurred on Friday when a 39-year-old German woman with a mental health condition assaulted a group of commuters with a knife during rush hour. The attack happened despite an existing knife ban at the station, which has been in place since December 2024 and carries a €10,000 fine for violations.
The latest violence follows a pattern of similar assaults, including a stabbing in Bielefeld just one week earlier that injured five people. In response, police officials and experts are advocating for measures beyond existing bans.
DPoIG national chairman Rainer Wendt emphasized on Monday the need for more advanced tools in public security. “Modern video technology” should be deployed in areas known for high crime rates, Wendt told Euronews. He also pointed out that to implement such systems, law enforcement requires “considerably more police forces and relief from non-prison tasks,” citing capacity issues as a major barrier.
His remarks were echoed by GdP chairman Andreas Roßkopf, who proposed deploying facial recognition-equipped surveillance cameras in “crime hotspots.” These tools could “detect behavioural problems in advance,” he told the press. In a separate interview, Roßkopf called for police to be granted authority to carry out random checks in order to better combat knife-related crimes.
The German interior ministry acknowledged the renewed focus on safety. “Video surveillance is part of the concept. We are already testing AI-based video surveillance at Hansaplatz that detects conspicuous movement patterns,” spokesperson Daniel Schaefer said.
Experts, however, caution that such technologies and bans have limited effectiveness. Criminologist Dirk Baier from the University of Zurich said knife restrictions are difficult to enforce in high-traffic areas like train stations. “Weapons ban zones in my view are not a sustainable approach to crime prevention,” Baier told Euronews. “They rely too heavily on controlling and searching passersby.”
He warned against overreliance on artificial intelligence or expanded police powers. “Knives can be inconspicuously carried in pants or jacket pockets, AI cannot detect that. And knife attackers only behave conspicuously at the moment of the attack, not beforehand.”
Instead, Baier advocates for early intervention strategies, particularly through education and family involvement. “Often, individuals who commit knife crimes have previously exhibited aggressive behaviour. The risk posed by such individuals must be identified earlier.”
Wendt also stressed the importance of parental responsibility in preventing youth violence. “For young people, it is above all their families who are responsible. If education teaches that it is okay to carry knives, schools, playgrounds and all other public spaces become dangerous places,” he said. “Parental responsibility must be emphasised more than before. They are responsible for ensuring that their children go to school unarmed. If necessary, sanctions must be used to make it clear to them that this is not a trivial matter.”
Knife-related violence has surged in Germany, with official data indicating nearly a 10% year-on-year rise in bodily harm incidents involving blades since 2023. The knife ban at Hamburg station was one of several measures introduced following a deadly 2024 stabbing in Solingen that claimed three lives.
