City · NW
Knife attacks in Essen
For Essen, 53 published cases are documented across the full documented period. They comprise 35 knife attacks, 6 knife threats, and 12 robberies or extortion cases involving a knife.
Annual comparison for this city
Data through 2026-09-09
- 2025
- 2026
Show data table
| Month | 2025 | 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| January | 2 | 1 |
| February | 4 | 1 |
| March | 5 | 2 |
| April | 0 | 3 |
| May | 2 | 5 |
| June | 1 | 5 |
| July | 2 | 2 |
| August | 3 | 2 |
| September | 6 | — |
| October | 1 | — |
| November | 4 | — |
| December | 2 | — |
Cases by type
- Knife attack35
- Knife threat6
- Robbery or extortion12
Reported injury outcomes
- No injury3
- Injured, severity not known10
- Minor injury5
- Serious injury8
- Life-threatening injury9
- Fatal outcome1
- Mixed injury outcomes6
- Not known11
Context for Essen
- Knife attacks account for the largest share of documented cases at 66.0%.
- The highest documented monthly count is September 2025 with 6 cases.
- Essen accounts for 3.9% of published cases in North Rhine-Westphalia.
- Essen has 586,608 residents (as of 2023).
53 results
Latest cases in Essen
- Knife attack
Man held in pre-trial detention after knife attack on wife in Essen
A 43-year-old man is alleged to have strangled and seriously injured his wife with a knife at their shared home in Essen-Dellwig. He was remanded in custody on suspicion of attempted murder.
- Robbery/extortion
Knife threat during attempted robbery in Essen
A passenger is alleged to have threatened a taxi driver in Essen with a knife. The driver was slightly injured and two men were provisionally detained.
- Knife attack
Three men seriously injured after altercation in Essen
Three men suffered serious stab injuries during an altercation at an event in Essen. A suspect was provisionally detained.
- Knife attack
Woman injured with stabbing weapon at Essen underground stop
An unidentified man is alleged to have repeatedly attacked a 58-year-old woman with a stabbing weapon at Viehofer Platz in Essen. She sustained stab and cut injuries, while the suspect fled.
- Knife attack
21-year-old seriously injured after attack in Essen
A 21-year-old suffered stab injuries and was seriously hurt in an attack by several people in Essen. One suspect was arrested.
- Knife attack
Man seriously injured by knife stab during altercation in Essen
A 24-year-old man sustained a serious stab injury during an altercation in central Essen. A 41-year-old was provisionally detained after a short flight.
- Knife attack
Man injured with stabbing weapon in Essen
A 29-year-old man was allegedly injured with a stabbing weapon after a dispute over money on a cycle route in Essen.
- Robbery/extortion
19-year-old remanded in custody after knife robbery in Essen
A 19-year-old is alleged to have threatened two supermarket employees with a knife and stolen cash from the day's takings in Essen. One employee sustained minor injuries during a scuffle.
- Knife attack
34-year-old seriously injured in stabbing in Essen
A 34-year-old man was seriously injured with a stabbing weapon in Essen-Altendorf. A 30-year-old suspect was arrested and remanded in custody.
- Knife attack
Man found with stab wounds in Essen
A 33-year-old man was found critically injured in Essen. A homicide investigation unit is investigating attempted manslaughter.
- Knife attack
Man detained after theft and confrontation at Essen central station
A 27-year-old man is alleged to have stolen goods from a shop at Essen central station. During a confrontation with an employee, he took scissors from him and the employee injured a finger.
- Knife attack
Three injured after stabbing in Essen
Following an argument at a cultural association in Essen-Katernberg, a man suffered serious stab wounds. Two other people were slightly injured and a suspect was identified.
- Knife attack
Two men seriously injured after dispute in Essen
Two men were seriously injured by cuts and stab wounds during a dispute at Viehofer Platz in Essen. The suspect remains at large.
- Knife threat
Man draws knife after sexually assaulting schoolgirl in Essen
After allegedly sexually assaulting a schoolgirl in Essen, a man drew a knife when a passer-by confronted him. He was arrested shortly afterwards and remanded in custody.
- Knife attack
Teenager critically injured after stabbing in Essen
A teenager was critically injured in a stabbing after an argument at an apartment building in Essen. A 19-year-old suspect has been remanded in custody.
- Knife threat
Teenager slightly injured after group attack in Essen
A group of teenagers allegedly surrounded two teenagers in Essen, with some displaying a knife. One of the two was slightly injured by a punch and irritant spray.
- Robbery/extortion
Essen: Two unknown men rob man using pointed weapon
Two unknown men are alleged to have threatened a man with a pointed weapon in an underpass in Essen and stolen his wallet.
- Knife attack
29-year-old injured with stabbing weapon during robbery in Essen
Several unknown men allegedly attacked a 29-year-old in Essen, stole cash and a mobile phone, and injured him with a stabbing weapon. One suspect was provisionally detained.
- Robbery/extortion
Man threatened with knife in Essen city centre
A 31-year-old man was threatened with a knife during an attempted robbery in Essen city centre. The three suspects fled.
- Knife attack
Two men injured in altercation in Essen
Two men were slightly injured with a bladed and stabbing weapon during an altercation in Essen. One suspect is in pre-trial detention.