Eighteen people injured in Hamburg knife attack

Hamburg

A knife attack at Hamburg's central railway station on Friday evening injured 18 people, according to police. A 39-year-old German woman was arrested at the scene. Authorities say mental illness likely caused the incident, and there’s no evidence of political motives or drug use.

The attack happened around 6:00 p.m. local time between platforms 13 and 14. Victims, aged 19 to 85, were stabbed while waiting for a train. Two bystanders and emergency responders quickly intervened, stopping the suspect. Seven people were slightly injured, seven seriously injured, and four critically injured.

As of Saturday, all four critically injured — including a 24-year-old man, a 24-year-old woman, a 52-year-old woman, and an 85-year-old woman — are in stable condition. The suspect remains in police custody and is scheduled to appear in court.

The homicide division is investigating, and police continue to rule out political or extremist motives. Chancellor Friedrich Merz called the attack “shocking” and praised emergency workers for their quick action.

Hamburg’s main station, one of Germany’s busiest, saw service delays and platform closures. This incident follows a string of violent attacks in Germany in recent months, raising public concern over safety and mental health support.