MesserMonitor statistics place published knife attacks, knife threats, robbery and extortion involving a knife in their regional and temporal context. The federal-state comparison shows case counts and cases per 100,000 residents. Further analysis shows absolute case numbers by period, case type, level of use and reported injury outcome.
Comparison year2026
Federal states compared · 2026
Cases through August 29, 2026
Comparison of published cases by federal state with population, immigration history and people seeking protection.
Population Immigration history People seeking protectionMesserMonitor cases
Baden-Württemberg
11,245,909 Population
13.47 %32.06 %3.40 %
311 Cases · 2.77 Cases per 100,000 residents
Bavaria
13,260,815 Population
15.88 %26.18 %2.98 %
253 Cases · 1.91 Cases per 100,000 residents
Berlin
3,701,307 Population
4.43 %35.45 %5.21 %
109 Cases · 2.94 Cases per 100,000 residents
Brandenburg
2,552,851 Population
3.06 %10.07 %2.96 %
22 Cases · 0.86 Cases per 100,000 residents
Bremen
706,901 Population
0.85 %40.03 %6.62 %
49 Cases · 6.93 Cases per 100,000 residents
Hamburg
1,869,801 Population
2.24 %35.51 %4.12 %
40 Cases · 2.14 Cases per 100,000 residents
Hesse
6,281,600 Population
7.52 %33.51 %4.42 %
259 Cases · 4.12 Cases per 100,000 residents
Lower Saxony
8,002,922 Population
9.58 %22.62 %4.24 %
174 Cases · 2.17 Cases per 100,000 residents
Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania
1,567,290 Population
1.88 %8.61 %3.34 %
27 Cases · 1.72 Cases per 100,000 residents
North Rhine-Westphalia
17,999,392 Population
21.55 %30.14 %4.40 %
508 Cases · 2.82 Cases per 100,000 residents
Rhineland-Palatinate
4,124,910 Population
4.94 %25.87 %3.51 %
102 Cases · 2.47 Cases per 100,000 residents
Saarland
1,008,047 Population
1.21 %24.11 %5.35 %
7 Cases · 0.69 Cases per 100,000 residents
Saxony
4,024,188 Population
4.82 %10.49 %3.41 %
87 Cases · 2.16 Cases per 100,000 residents
Saxony-Anhalt
2,121,638 Population
2.54 %9.95 %3.69 %
62 Cases · 2.92 Cases per 100,000 residents
Schleswig-Holstein
2,959,859 Population
3.54 %19.29 %4.03 %
42 Cases · 1.42 Cases per 100,000 residents
Thuringia
2,081,288 Population
2.49 %10.19 %3.49 %
49 Cases · 2.35 Cases per 100,000 residents
Analysis and result
The figures are based on publicly reported cases found through the evaluated sources.
Social context
Each point represents a federal state. Its position connects the selected social indicator with published cases per 100,000 residents.
Area statesCity states
Result for the selected indicatorData table and sources
A 30-year-old man was seriously injured by multiple stab wounds in northern Dortmund. His condition was initially life-threatening but has since stabilised.
An unidentified cyclist allegedly threatened several youths in Versmold while holding a knife. Police said he had previously thrown firecrackers and stones.
During an altercation at a football pitch in Leipzig-Grünau, a 32-year-old man was allegedly injured with a knife by a 27-year-old man, police said. At least four people were injured, and two men required hospital treatment.
During a dispute on Berliner Ring in Paderborn, a man allegedly injured another man with a knife. The injured man was taken to hospital and the suspect was arrested.
A man is accused of threatening another man with a knife and demanding money at Waldshut bus station. Two men were later slightly injured with pepper spray during a further encounter.
An unidentified man allegedly injured a 42-year-old man in the upper arm with a knife in Quadrath-Ichendorf. The suspect fled, and police are investigating and seeking witnesses.
Following an argument in Rudolstadt, an unidentified man allegedly threatened a 73-year-old man with a pocketknife. Nobody was injured, and the suspect fled on a local bus.
During a family dispute in Griesheim, a 43-year-old man is alleged to have attacked two relatives with a knife. Both sustained serious injuries, and the suspect was remanded in custody.
An 18-year-old suspect is alleged to have injured two men with a knife during an argument in Lichtenfels. A pre-trial detention order was issued against him.
