Disruptions and Acts of Violence at German Railway Stations
In the first half of this year, Germany has witnessed a significant increase in violent and weapons-related offenses at train stations and on trains. The number of violent incidents has risen from 13,543 to 14,047, according to the Police Input Statistics of the Federal Police (PES).
One of the most concerning trends is the sharp increase in knife-related violent attacks. Data from the first half of 2025 shows a 17% rise in blade-related attacks compared to the same period in 2024, with the majority of incidents occurring at train stations (409 cases), followed by railway tracks and station forecourts. The number of knife attacks in trains increased from 65 in the first half of last year to 68 in the first half of this year.
The rise in violent crimes includes a notable increase in group rapes and sexual violence. Suspects from foreign origins make up over half of the cases, with the top non-German nationalities linked to violent offenses, particularly sexual crimes, being from Syria, Afghanistan, Iraq, and Turkey.
Other violent offenses involving physical assault have also contributed to the overall increase in violent incidents. However, general perceptions of safety in public transport remain relatively moderate to good in some areas such as Bremen.
The surge in violent crimes has been linked partly to migration-related issues and insufficient border security and deportation policies. There is also a recognized ongoing threat of terrorism using weapons such as knives and vehicles.
In contrast, the number of drug-related crimes decreased from 5,839 to 4,475 in the first half of this year. The number of property crimes also decreased from 29,468 to 26,613, with the majority of suspects for property crimes and sexual offenses this year being non-German.
It's important to note that the data does not provide a breakdown for other categories of crimes. The police recorded 480 weapons offenses in the first half of this year, and 1,493 property damages and 1,493 drug-related offenses.
The German government and political commentators have expressed concerns about these trends, with the Federal Ministry of the Interior responding to a minor inquiry by the AfD parliamentary group regarding the increase in weapons offenses.
As the year progresses, a final assessment for the entire year of 2025 can only be made after the end of the year. However, the current trends suggest a significant increase in violent and weapons-related offenses at train stations and trains, mainly driven by knife attacks and a notable share of offenders being non-German nationals from specific migration backgrounds.
[1] German Press Agency [2] German authorities and experts [3] Perception of safety in public transport, Bremen [4] Recognized ongoing threat of terrorism [5] Data on gun violence in Germany is less explicit in these sources
- Amidst the rising trend of violent crimes in Germany, politics and general-news outlets are discussing concerns regarding an increase in weapons offenses at train stations and on trains, specifically pointing out knife-related attacks as a significant concern.
- Crime-and-justice experts have identified the surge in knife attacks and a notable percentage of non-German nationals from specific migration backgrounds as the main drivers behind the increase in violent and weapons-related offenses at train stations and on trains in Germany.
