Knife attacks on German public transport have become a constant. In 2024, 609 knife attacks were recorded at stations and on trains in Germany, just below the 639 recorded in 2023, according to recent data from the Federal Police. That is almost two assaults per day, with the degree of danger continuing to rise.
Most of these incidents – 487 cases – occurred at stations, subway stops or S-Bahn stops. A further 121 occurred on commuter trains, and one more in rail facilities outside the usual transit areas.
In addition, the number of knives seized increased significantly: on 343 occasions, officers intercepted armed persons even if they did not actually use the weapon, a significant increase over the 298 interventions in 2023. The increase is attributed to more intensive checks in railway environments, but also reveals an alarming trend: more people are carrying knives in public spaces.
The situation has worsened in 2025. In the first four months of the year alone, 210 knife attacks have been recorded, in addition to 142 cases of unused possession. If this trend continues, Germany could reach record figures for knife crime this year.
Although statistics show a slight decline in the total number of assaults, the threat persists, and the latest data suggest that the situation is far from improving. Safety on public transport, especially in large urban centers, is once again at the center of political and social debate in Germany.
