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 year2025
Federal states compared · 2025
Cases through December 31, 2025
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 %
491 Cases · 4.37 Cases per 100,000 residents
Bavaria
13,260,815 Population
15.88 %26.18 %2.98 %
382 Cases · 2.88 Cases per 100,000 residents
Berlin
3,701,307 Population
4.43 %35.45 %5.21 %
196 Cases · 5.30 Cases per 100,000 residents
Brandenburg
2,552,851 Population
3.06 %10.07 %2.96 %
72 Cases · 2.82 Cases per 100,000 residents
Bremen
706,901 Population
0.85 %40.03 %6.62 %
80 Cases · 11.32 Cases per 100,000 residents
Hamburg
1,869,801 Population
2.24 %35.51 %4.12 %
53 Cases · 2.83 Cases per 100,000 residents
Hesse
6,281,600 Population
7.52 %33.51 %4.42 %
352 Cases · 5.60 Cases per 100,000 residents
Lower Saxony
8,002,922 Population
9.58 %22.62 %4.24 %
314 Cases · 3.92 Cases per 100,000 residents
Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania
1,567,290 Population
1.88 %8.61 %3.34 %
69 Cases · 4.40 Cases per 100,000 residents
North Rhine-Westphalia
17,999,392 Population
21.55 %30.14 %4.40 %
847 Cases · 4.71 Cases per 100,000 residents
Rhineland-Palatinate
4,124,910 Population
4.94 %25.87 %3.51 %
172 Cases · 4.17 Cases per 100,000 residents
Saarland
1,008,047 Population
1.21 %24.11 %5.35 %
18 Cases · 1.79 Cases per 100,000 residents
Saxony
4,024,188 Population
4.82 %10.49 %3.41 %
141 Cases · 3.50 Cases per 100,000 residents
Saxony-Anhalt
2,121,638 Population
2.54 %9.95 %3.69 %
79 Cases · 3.72 Cases per 100,000 residents
Schleswig-Holstein
2,959,859 Population
3.54 %19.29 %4.03 %
121 Cases · 4.09 Cases per 100,000 residents
Thuringia
2,081,288 Population
2.49 %10.19 %3.49 %
100 Cases · 4.80 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 47-year-old man allegedly threatened a 20-year-old man with a knife after an argument at Stuttgart-Vaihingen station. The younger man was uninjured, and the suspect is under investigation.
A 44-year-old man suffered a life-threatening stab wound to the neck during a dispute near Neumarkt in Cologne. Police are still searching for the suspected attacker.
An unidentified man threatened a petrol station employee in Dortmund-Aplerbeck with a kitchen knife and stole cash. The employee was not injured, and the suspect fled.
An unidentified man robbed a petrol station in Kempten while carrying a machete-like object and took cash. The cashier got to safety and suffered a mild shock.
An unidentified man is alleged to have threatened a young woman with a knife and sexually assaulted her at a bus stop in Kaarst. Police are searching for him.
During an argument in a Stuttgart apartment, a woman allegedly seriously and initially critically injured a man with a knife. Both people received medical treatment.
During a dispute near Ettlinger Tor in Karlsruhe, two men reportedly threatened each other, possibly including with a knife. A 22-year-old suspect was provisionally detained, while the other man fled by bicycle.
A man was injured with a pocketknife during a dispute at the Westerntor bus stop in Paderborn. His girlfriend sustained a facial injury after being struck.
A man was injured with a glass bottle after a dispute at a skate park in Nettetal. During the subsequent pursuit of the two men, one suspect was holding a knife.
A 33-year-old man was critically injured in a dispute at Geesthacht cemetery, allegedly through the use of a knife. A 23-year-old suspect later turned himself in to police and was provisionally detained.
A 33-year-old man is alleged to have deliberately thrown a knife at a police officer in Isny im Allgäu. The officer was not hit, and the man was remanded in custody.
During a dispute at Altenhagen Bridge in Hagen, two unidentified men allegedly threatened three brothers with knives. Police later recovered one knife, while the suspects had left the scene.
