In a violent incident at the Hamburg Central Station, police reported that 18 individuals have sustained injuries, with several suffering life-threatening conditions. The attack occurred on Friday around 18:00 local time (16:00 GMT), prompting a significant response from law enforcement.
Authorities identified and apprehended a 39-year-old German woman at the scene during their extensive operation. Currently in police custody, she is set to face a court hearing on Saturday.
Details of the Incident
In a statement shared on X, Hamburg Police confirmed that multiple victims were in critical condition following the attack. Police spokesperson Florian Abbenseth addressed the media outside the station, indicating that the suspect appeared to have acted alone and did not seem to possess any “political motive.” Officials speculated that she might have been “in a state of mental distress.” The homicide division of the police is actively investigating both the incident and the suspect’s motivations.
The stabbing took place between platforms 13 and 14, which are located near a busy thoroughfare, as a train was present on one of the platforms. Reports indicate that some victims received medical attention inside the trains themselves.
Reactions and Impact
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz characterized the attack as “shocking” and expressed gratitude toward emergency services for their prompt response.
German rail operator Deutsche Bahn announced the closure of four platforms at the station, leading to delays and diversions in service. Images from the scene depict numerous emergency responders and vehicles, along with barriers set up to shield the injured from public visibility. One media photograph captured a man being transported by paramedics on a stretcher.
A video circulating on social media shows the alleged attacker being escorted from the platform by officers, with her hands restrained behind her back as she was placed in a police vehicle.
Hamburg Central Station ranks as one of Germany’s busiest transit centers, accommodating over 550,000 travelers daily, particularly bustling during the Friday evening rush hour.
This incident adds to a troubling pattern of violent occurrences in Germany in recent months, including a stabbing in Aschaffenburg that resulted in the deaths of a two-year-old boy and a 41-year-old man, as well as another attack on a Spanish tourist at Berlin’s Holocaust Memorial just weeks later. Last December, a tragic incident at a Christmas market in Magdeburg claimed six lives and injured hundreds when a vehicle plowed into crowds.
The recent attacks, with a majority of suspects being migrants, have intensified the debate around border controls and immigration policies, making it a pivotal issue in the federal elections earlier this year.