Case type
Knife threats in Germany
Knife threats in Germany include published cases in which a knife or another object capable of stabbing or cutting was used directly to threaten a person, without a documented attack. The overview shows case numbers, regional distribution and the related individual cases.
Annual comparison for this case type
Data through 2026-10-24
- 2025
- 2026
Show data table
| Month | 2025 | 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| January | 86 | 82 |
| February | 73 | 69 |
| March | 90 | 76 |
| April | 76 | 59 |
| May | 90 | 62 |
| June | 73 | 57 |
| July | 78 | 64 |
| August | 77 | 78 |
| September | 72 | 67 |
| October (partial) | 62 | 41 |
| November | 56 | — |
| December | 66 | — |
Federal-state comparison
-
North Rhine-Westphalia
- Population
- 17,999,392
- Cases of this type
- 284
- Per 100,000 residents
- 1.58
- Share within the state
- 19.5 %
-
Baden-Württemberg
- Population
- 11,245,909
- Cases of this type
- 258
- Per 100,000 residents
- 2.29
- Share within the state
- 30.3 %
-
Bavaria
- Population
- 13,260,815
- Cases of this type
- 223
- Per 100,000 residents
- 1.68
- Share within the state
- 31.7 %
-
Hesse
- Population
- 6,281,600
- Cases of this type
- 179
- Per 100,000 residents
- 2.85
- Share within the state
- 27.3 %
-
Lower Saxony
- Population
- 8,002,922
- Cases of this type
- 109
- Per 100,000 residents
- 1.36
- Share within the state
- 21.3 %
-
Rhineland-Palatinate
- Population
- 4,124,910
- Cases of this type
- 90
- Per 100,000 residents
- 2.18
- Share within the state
- 31.7 %
-
Saxony
- Population
- 4,024,188
- Cases of this type
- 73
- Per 100,000 residents
- 1.81
- Share within the state
- 28.7 %
-
Brandenburg
- Population
- 2,552,851
- Cases of this type
- 68
- Per 100,000 residents
- 2.66
- Share within the state
- 46.9 %
-
Thuringia
- Population
- 2,081,288
- Cases of this type
- 66
- Per 100,000 residents
- 3.17
- Share within the state
- 42.0 %
-
Saxony-Anhalt
- Population
- 2,121,638
- Cases of this type
- 52
- Per 100,000 residents
- 2.45
- Share within the state
- 33.1 %
-
Berlin
- Population
- 3,701,307
- Cases of this type
- 45
- Per 100,000 residents
- 1.22
- Share within the state
- 13.7 %
-
Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania
- Population
- 1,567,290
- Cases of this type
- 34
- Per 100,000 residents
- 2.17
- Share within the state
- 33.3 %
-
Schleswig-Holstein
- Population
- 2,959,859
- Cases of this type
- 33
- Per 100,000 residents
- 1.11
- Share within the state
- 17.5 %
-
Bremen
- Population
- 706,901
- Cases of this type
- 24
- Per 100,000 residents
- 3.40
- Share within the state
- 17.3 %
-
Saarland
- Population
- 1,008,047
- Cases of this type
- 8
- Per 100,000 residents
- 0.79
- Share within the state
- 29.6 %
-
Hamburg
- Population
- 1,869,801
- Cases of this type
- 8
- Per 100,000 residents
- 0.43
- Share within the state
- 7.5 %
Comparison of published cases; not a statement of personal risk or the complete crime situation.
Reported injury outcomes
- No injury221
- Injured, severity not known177
- Minor injury251
- Serious injury18
- Life-threatening injury4
- Fatal outcome6
- Mixed injury outcomes14
- Not known863
1554 results
Latest cases
- Knife threats
Man threatened with knife at Speyer Nord-West station
A 47-year-old man allegedly threatened a 27-year-old with a knife after an argument at Speyer Nord-West station. The threatened man fled.
- Knife threats
Witness threatened with knife after burglary in Bonn-Tannenbusch
A witness pursued two suspected burglars in Bonn-Tannenbusch until one threatened him with a knife. Both men were arrested and a judge ordered them held in pre-trial detention.
- Knife threats
Man waves knife during police check in Hamburg
During a weapons check at Hamburg Central Station, a 19-year-old man resisted officers and waved a knife. Police took him to the station.
- Knife threats
Police investigate reported knife threat in Röblingen am See
A dispute over loud music in Röblingen am See reportedly involved threats with a knife and an iron bar. One of the two men was injured by punches.
- Knife threats
Woman approaches police with two knives in Hanover
A 30-year-old woman approached police officers in Hanover-Vahrenwald with two knives. When pepper spray did not stop her, officers shot and injured her; her injuries were not life-threatening.
- Knife threats
Man reportedly threatened bus driver and passengers with a knife in Hamburg
A man reportedly threatened a driver and passengers with a knife on a bus in Hamburg-Neugraben. Passengers used pepper spray, and police responded.
- Knife threats
Witness threatened with pointed object at Mechernich cemetery
At a cemetery in Mechernich-Lessenich, a man approached and threatened a 67-year-old witness while holding a pointed object. The witness had seen him damage graves beforehand.
- Knife threats
Petrol station employee threatened with knife in Oberursel
After being refused a purchase at a petrol station in Oberursel, a young man drew a knife in front of an employee. He then ran away.
- Knife threats
Man threatens police officer in Duisburg with knife-like object
A man allegedly threatened a police officer in Duisburg with a knife-like object. He fled, but police later identified the 51-year-old suspect.
- Knife threats
Man allegedly threatened another man with knife in Querfurt
During a dispute over a missing bicycle in Querfurt, a 24-year-old man allegedly threatened a 45-year-old man with a knife. No one was injured.
- Knife threats
Man threatens colleague with kitchen knife during dispute at Potsdam construction site
At a construction site in Potsdam-Golm, a 38-year-old man gestured threateningly with a kitchen knife in front of his 29-year-old colleague during a dispute. Police temporarily took him into custody.
- Knife threats
Man threatens five young men near school centre in Böblingen
A 44-year-old man allegedly threatened five young men with a knife near a school centre in Böblingen and briefly pursued them. Police later seized a knife from him.
- Knife threats
Store detective threatened with knife in Hoyerswerda
After a shoplifting incident in Hoyerswerda, a man threatened a store detective with a knife. He and his companion escaped with goods worth about five euros.
- Knife threats
Youth office employee threatened with pointed object in Porta Westfalica
A 35-year-old woman allegedly threatened an employee at a youth welfare office in Porta Westfalica with a pointed object. No one was injured; she was later placed in a specialist clinic.
- Knife threats
Teenager suspected of threatening boy with machete in Stuttgart
In a Stuttgart park, a teenager allegedly threatened a boy with a machete while another teenager held him. Police temporarily detained one suspect.
- Knife threats
Shoplifting suspects threaten staff with razor blades in Gütersloh
After a shoplifting incident in Gütersloh, two fleeing men allegedly threatened staff with razor blades. Police provisionally detained both and are investigating a third suspect.
- Knife threats
Man threatened with knife during dispute at Sendlinger-Tor-Platz
During a dispute at Sendlinger-Tor-Platz in Munich, a 32-year-old man allegedly threatened a 42-year-old man with a knife. Police detained the suspect.
- Knife threats
Man threatened with knife in Erfurt station underpass
A 26-year-old man allegedly threatened a 19-year-old man with a knife in an Erfurt station underpass. The younger man was unhurt, and police opened an investigation into the suspect.
- Knife threats
Teenage girl threatens two boys with knife attack in Vöhringen
In Vöhringen's Kirchplatz, a teenage girl verbally threatened to attack two boys with a knife. Police later located her and a teenage companion; no recovered knife was reported.
- Knife threats
Suspected shoplifter handles knife in front of staff
In a Nordhausen supermarket, a 36-year-old drew a knife after an employee confronted him and later placed it in front of other staff. Police took him into custody; nobody was hurt.