Eighteen people were injured in a knife attack at Hamburg’s Central Station on Friday evening, in what authorities have described as a violent and distressing incident. The attack took place around 18:00 local time on one of the station’s busiest platforms, between platforms 13 and 14, just as the station was experiencing its usual Friday rush-hour crowd.
Police apprehended a 39-year-old German woman at the scene. She remains in custody and is expected to appear in court the following day. Authorities confirmed that several of the injured victims sustained life-threatening wounds. Emergency medical teams were seen treating victims both inside the station and on board a train. Some individuals received emergency care within the carriages where the attack unfolded.
Police believe the woman acted alone and have ruled out any political motive at this stage. Initial investigations suggest that the suspect may have been suffering from mental health issues at the time of the attack. Officers said the case is being handled by the homicide division, which is conducting a thorough investigation into her motives and circumstances leading to the assault.
Eyewitness accounts and media coverage show a chaotic scene, with emergency services quickly responding. Images from the scene captured paramedics transporting victims on stretchers while police cordoned off sections of the station. Video footage circulating online shows the suspect being escorted by police officers, her hands behind her back, as she is placed into a police vehicle.
Four platforms at the station were closed in the aftermath, causing significant disruption to rail services. Trains were delayed or diverted as police and emergency workers secured the scene and ensured public safety. The station, one of the busiest in Germany, typically sees over half a million passengers daily. The disruption came at a particularly busy time, with large commuter crowds present.
Government officials reacted swiftly, expressing shock and concern. Leaders commended the emergency services for their prompt response and support for the injured. Authorities urged calm as investigations continued and assured the public that measures were being taken to prevent further incidents.
This incident follows a disturbing trend of violent attacks across Germany in recent months. In January, a fatal stabbing in a park in Aschaffenburg left a child and an adult dead, with several others injured. In February, a tourist was stabbed near Berlin’s Holocaust Memorial. Another major incident occurred last December when a car drove into a Christmas market in Magdeburg, resulting in six deaths and hundreds of injuries.
The rise in such incidents has contributed to public anxiety and political debate. Previous attacks, often involving suspects with migrant backgrounds, led to heightened border checks and made immigration a central topic in recent national elections. However, Friday’s attack appears unrelated to such concerns, with the suspect being a German national and early reports indicating no ideological or political motive.
As the investigation into the Hamburg attack continues, authorities are focused on uncovering the full details surrounding the incident. Meanwhile, the country grapples with yet another episode of violence in a public space, raising ongoing questions about safety, mental health, and preventive security measures in major transit hubs.
