Hannover · NI

Woman approaches police with two knives in Hanover

A 30-year-old woman was injured by police gunfire in Hanover-Vahrenwald on the evening of 19 October 2026 after approaching officers with two knives. Her injuries were not life-threatening, and emergency medical personnel took her to a hospital. At about 20:55, witnesses had alerted police to a woman carrying a knife near Vahrenwalder Straße. Officers found her near Halkettstraße; she continued towards the city centre and did not comply with requests to stop for a check. At around 21:10, she drew a knife and approached the officers. Repeated use of pepper spray had no effect, and she later moved towards them with two knives in total. She did not stop when officers warned that they would use firearms. Police fired at least one shot, then brought her under control and provided initial medical care. Criminal investigators are examining the operation. Shortly beforehand, the woman had been reported missing from a psychiatric facility in Langenhagen. She was already under investigation for a separate alleged knife attack on a man on Vahrenwalder Straße on 18 October; the man was not injured.

Source: www.ndr.de