Deadly police sayings in the Mostviertel: Knife attack escalated!

Deadly police sayings in the Mostviertel: Knife attack escalated!

A fatal incident in a market town in the Mostviertel currently employs the investigators. A 49-year-old Austrian citizen was shot by police officers on Wednesday afternoon after attacking her with a knife. The incident is related to suspicion of theft. Media reports suggest that there was an upright ban on weapons against the man, but according to the police, there is no evidence that he belonged to the Reich Citizens' or State Contribution scene. In the past, the man was not the subject of an investigation, which makes the events appear all the more tragic. The investigation is carried out by the investigative and complaints office on the allegations of abuse (EBM) in the Federal Office for Corruption Prevention and Corruption Control (BAK), which also checks the use of firearms.

The results of these investigations are forwarded to the St. Pölten public prosecutor. These dramatic events raise questions about the current security level and the applicable arms laws, especially in the context of increasing violent crime.

increase in violent crime

Germany has a worrying increase in violence with knives. According to the police crime statistics, there were a total of 8,951 knife attacks in 2022, and 13,844 cases will be assumed for 2023. The fact that every fifth heavy attack is committed with a knife requires special attention, while the number of knife attacks in the cities continues to increase. In Lower Saxony, for example, there are eight attacks a day, ten in Berlin.

In order to counteract this development, a tightening of the weapons law was introduced in October 2024. Among other things, this provides for the creation of knife -free zones in public places such as train stations and events. Authorities now have the opportunity to set up weapon ban zones more easily, and fines have also been increased considerably. Male youth are a larger proportion of suspects; About 90 percent come from men's hands, while a third is under 21 years old.

social backgrounds

The causes of the increase in knife power are complex. Criminologist Dirk Baier explains that social inequality and increasing living costs create a breeding ground for violence. In addition, masculinity orientations in young men increase the problem. It is believed that up to a third of the male adolescents occasionally leads a knife.

As part of the political discussions, it is required to provide more funds for social work and to start campaigns against violence. The imparting of basic competencies of living together, such as empathy and conflict resolution, is also seen as a long -term solution to further contain violence. In addition, Federal Minister of the Interior Nancy Faeser plans to significantly restrict the handling of knives in public space. For example, knives with a blade length of over 6 cm should no longer be worn in public.

The deeds such as the knife attack on a 19-year-old woman in a train station who caused a sensation show the acute necessity of preventive measures and a comprehensive action plan to combat knife power. It is clear that the current laws do not necessarily offer a complete security guarantee.