Knife attack at Hamburg Central Station: 18 injured, perpetrators mentally ill!

Knife attack at Hamburg Central Station: 18 injured, perpetrators mentally ill!

On Friday evening there was a shocking incident in Hamburg Central Station, in which a 39-year-old woman injured several people with a knife. There were a total of 18 injuries, with four people, including three women aged 24, 52 and 85, and a 24-year-old man, life-threatening injuries. Fortunately, all injuries could be stabilized. Ten other people sometimes suffered serious, sometimes minor injuries. In many people, the incident arouses concern about safety at train stations, especially at a time when school holidays started in Hamburg and the train station is well frequented.

The crime occurred between track 13 and 14, when the perpetrator had previously handled the knife on the southern walk. Fast action by two passers -by prevented an even worse scenario by preventing the attacker from attacking more people. The police were quickly at the scene, and the Quattro team from federal and state police as well as security forces quickly arrested the perpetrator. There are currently no indications of political motivation, but indications of a mental illness of the attacker who is now to be instructed in psychiatry. A judge will decide on your further whereabouts.

reactions and security measures

The crime not only sent shock waves by the population, but also triggered a discussion about security measures in rail traffic. Andreas Roßkopf, Chairman of the Federal Police in the police union, demands nationwide control controls at train stations and an expansion of the Quattro strips to nationwide. This special police presence is already active in Hamburg. The federal police are currently faced with a shortage of skilled workers, since around 3,500 additional employees are missing in order to be able to guarantee a high level of safety.

In addition, the use of artificial intelligence (AI) is considered in order to evaluate monitoring video images for early identification of potential dangers. As part of Ensure Protection, there has been a weapons ban on Hamburg Central Station since autumn 2023, which also includes knives. This regulation is checked regularly to further improve the security situation.

mental health in focus

The circumstances of the attack also raise questions about mental health that have increasingly come into focus in recent years. Studies show that around 75 percent of mental illnesses begin in childhood and adolescence and are often recognized or kept secret too late. Deutsche Bahn has set up a hotline for those affected and relatives to offer support for such incidents.

engagement to the horror of mental illnesses is becoming increasingly important. Since 2014, the Deutsche Bahn Foundation has been committed to low -threshold knowledge transfer to mental health and promotes educational work on frequently underestimated diseases such as depression. A closer cooperation of all security and health players is essential to not only prevent such incidents, but also to promote the quality of life of people.

Overall, it remains to be seen which specific steps the authorities will do in response to this incident in order to increase security in public locations.

Further information can be found in the article by vienna.at , the report by Zeit.de as well as information on mental health on the website of Deutsche Bahn> Deutsche Bahn> Foundation .