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
Two men are alleged to have used a knife to demand that a petrol station employee open the cash register in Düren. Police provisionally arrested both suspects later that same morning after they fled.
Two suspected burglars are alleged to have threatened a security employee near company premises in Bergisch Gladbach. One displayed a knife-like object toward him.
Three unknown men allegedly attacked and robbed a 49-year-old man in Marburg, apparently injuring his finger with a knife. He was taken to hospital with serious injuries.
An unidentified man allegedly demanded cash with a knife at a petrol station in Bielefeld. He fled empty-handed when the employee could not open the till.
Three people were injured during an altercation in Gotha, including a teenager who was seriously hurt. Police say a 22-year-old is believed to have used a knife.
Two men were injured in a dispute in Dornburg in which a machete was used. A 69-year-old initially suffered life-threatening injuries, and a 49-year-old was arrested.
A 33-year-old woman is alleged to have threatened her parents with a kitchen knife after an argument in their Frankfurt flat. Police arrested her and took her to a psychiatric facility.
A seriously injured man allegedly threatened emergency officers with a knife on the banks of the Elster in Gera. Police later rescued him from the river.
During the execution of an arrest warrant in Nuremberg, a 38-year-old man is alleged to have armed himself with a kitchen knife during a struggle with police officers. He died after an officer used a firearm.
A 57-year-old patient threatened paramedics with a knife during an emergency-service call in Ostercappeln. Police arrested him after using pepper spray.
