Weapons found in Berlin courts: A worrying trend!

Weapons found in Berlin courts: A worrying trend!

An alarming trend has emerged in Berlin's courts: 6,951 knives had already been discovered during security checks by the end of November this year. This number corresponds to almost the entire number of knives found last year, when a total of 6,958 knives were seized. The judicial authorities report a total of 21,363 dangerous items that have been confiscated so far in 2024. This also includes pepper and gas spray as well as various tools. What is worrying is the increase in dangerous situations, especially at the entrance checkpoints of the courts, which have already been protected by a security concept since 2018 berliner-abendblatt.de reported.

At the Moabit justice campus in particular, 1,430 cutting and stabbing weapons were secured, which represents a decrease compared to 2023. But the situation is anything but reassuring: the number of knives discovered at the Neukölln district court rose to 1,152, more than three times as many as in the previous year. Firearms were also found during checks, including at the Moabit justice campus, where three cases occurred. This raises questions as authorities report an increase in aggressive behavior among court attendees. Such verbal arguments and critical incidents are now part of everyday life, according to the justice administration, although violent confrontations are relatively rare. The judicial sergeants are particularly affected by the controls ooe.orf.at stated.

The combination of over 21,000 dangerous items in the courts and the reported threats sheds serious light on security in German judicial buildings. Not only is increased security awareness required, but also measures to combat the causes of these problems.