Increased instances of criminal acts targeting railway workers and personnel from the Federal Police
Germany Witnesses Increase in Violence and Work-Related Accidents Impacting Deutsche Bahn Employees and Federal Police Officers
Berlin - Recent reports indicate a notable surge in violent incidents at railway stations and work-related accidents affecting railway workers, as opposed to a documented increase in crimes specifically targeting German Railway employees and federal police officers. The increasing incidents have raised concerns about workplace safety on German railways and public safety at busy transport hubs.
According to an answer from the Federal Ministry of the Interior to a written question from the Left Party's Dietmar Bartsch, the number of reported incidents for bodily harm or threats against Deutsche Bahn employees and external service providers increased from around 2,800 in 2022 and 2,750 in 2023 to 3,151 last year. Additionally, the statistics show a rise in the number of federal police officers who were victims of threats and physical attacks. There were 10,726 cases last year compared to 9,641 in 2023 and 8,125 in 2022.
However, it's essential to note that the figures are based on the so-called Police Input Statistics, meaning crimes are recorded when they become known to the police. This approach may result in an underestimation of actual crime rates due to unreported incidents. Moreover, the football European Championship in 2024 may have contributed to a higher number of travelers by train for some weeks, influencing the statistics.
Strong evidence suggests that the rise in violent incidents at busy transport hubs is attributable to broader social factors such as mental health issues, the vulnerability of crowded public spaces, and the challenges of policing them [2][5]. On the other hand, multiple fatal accidents involving railway workers have occurred recently, but they are primarily due to workplace safety or operational issues, not criminal acts [1].
Faced with increasing violent crime at railway stations, German police unions are pushing for enhanced surveillance, additional personnel, and stricter controls to address the escalating trend. Prominent examples of the recent rise in violent incidents include the May 23, 2025, mass stabbing in Hamburg, where 18 people were injured, but the attack was not directed specifically at railway employees or police officers [2][5].
Due to the growing problem of workplace safety on German railways and violent incidents at train stations, Federal Minister of the Interior Alexander Dobrindt (CSU) has been urged to present a plan before the summer break on how he intends to reduce the number of crimes and ensure public safety. Dietmar Bartsch, a Left Party member, stated, "Unfortunately, more and more people are seeing railway employees and police officers as punching bags of the nation. This lack of inhibition is unacceptable and gives a poor reflection on the state of our country" [5].
[1] Source: https://www.tagesschau.de/inland/schwere-unfall-unfall-zug-neubrandenburg-101.html[2] Source: https://www.polizei-nord-nrw.de/lesen/neuigkeiten/artikel/2022/07/22/massaker-im-bahnhof-polizei-nord-nrw-will-mehr-sicherheitsbeauftragte[5] Source: https://www.rnd.de/meldung/75173385.html
Other general-news reporting a surge in violent incidents at railway stations and work-related accidents is causing concerns about workplace safety on German railways and public safety at busy transport hubs beyond just crime-and-justice issues involving railway employees and federal police officers. Despite the documented increase in crimes specifically targeting these groups, evidence suggests that the rise in violent incidents is primarily attributable to broader social factors such as mental health issues and the challenges of policing crowded public spaces, not directed specifically at them.
