Berlin bans knives on public transport in response to surge in stabbings
Faced with a sharp rise in knife-related violence, Berlin is moving to implement stricter public safety measures. The Berlin Senate has approved the establishment of knife-free zones throughout the city’s public transportation network, including all buses, trains, and trams. The policy, announced by Interior Senator Iris Spranger (SPD), will take effect in mid-July, as confirmed to the German press agency dpa.
The new regulation empowers police to conduct random checks for knives on public transport without needing specific suspicion—a major departure from previous laws, which only allowed such searches when justified by concrete evidence. City officials say the change is a necessary response to the growing number of violent incidents involving bladed weapons in public spaces.
Pilot knife-free zones have already been introduced since February in several high-risk locations, including Kottbusser Tor, Görlitzer Park, and Leopoldplatz. These areas have seen the confiscation of nearly 100 knives in just a few months. Individuals found violating the ban may face fines of up to €1,000. In more serious cases, additional consequences have been enforced: four repeat offenders have had their driver’s licenses revoked, while two individuals have undergone psychiatric evaluations due to repeated knife-related offenses.
Exemptions to the ban will apply to on-duty police officers, emergency medical staff, and rescue teams. Civilians, however, will only be permitted to transport knives if they are securely stored—for instance, in locked luggage—not in accessible backpacks or handbags. The possession of self-defense tools such as pepper spray will remain legal under the new rules.
According to Berlin police, a total of 3,412 knife attacks were reported in the city in 2024. More than half of these incidents—51.7%—occurred in public spaces. This amounts to an average of nearly five stabbings per day, a figure that has alarmed both local authorities and residents.
The new knife ban is part of a broader strategy to address rising street violence, increase public safety, and give law enforcement more proactive tools to prevent attacks before they occur. Officials hope the measure will act as both a deterrent and a practical step toward reducing knife-related crimes in Germany’s capital.
