Germany: At Least 17 Injured in Knife Attack at Hamburg Train Station

At least 17 people were injured, four of them in critical condition, during a knife attack carried out by a 39-year-old woman at the central train station in Hamburg on Friday evening (May 23). The woman has been arrested, but her motives remain unclear. The attack occurred shortly after 7:00 PM (local time) on platform 14 of the high-speed ICE 855 train, which was scheduled to travel from Hamburg to Munich. The attacker indiscriminately targeted passengers waiting to board the train, causing scenes of panic. Law enforcement, including local and federal police who are always present at the station with strong forces, intervened within seconds, disarming and apprehending the suspect. According to reports, the woman is German, known to police authorities, and suffers from psychological issues. Authorities believe she acted alone. Emergency services arrived immediately, providing first aid to some victims inside the train cars. The area was cordoned off, and access to the station was restricted for hours, partially disrupting train services, which will gradually resume. Chancellor Friedrich Mertz expressed his distress over the incident, speaking with Hamburg Mayor Peter Tschentscher, conveying condolences to the victims and their families, thanking law enforcement and emergency responders, and offering federal assistance. German Railways (DB) issued a statement expressing deep sorrow over the attack and reiterated that weapons, including knives, are prohibited on public transportation. The Hamburg Central Station is one of the busiest in Germany.