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 October 24, 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 %
360 Cases · 3.20 Cases per 100,000 residents
Bavaria
13,260,815 Population
15.88 %26.18 %2.98 %
322 Cases · 2.43 Cases per 100,000 residents
Berlin
3,701,307 Population
4.43 %35.45 %5.21 %
132 Cases · 3.57 Cases per 100,000 residents
Brandenburg
2,552,851 Population
3.06 %10.07 %2.96 %
73 Cases · 2.86 Cases per 100,000 residents
Bremen
706,901 Population
0.85 %40.03 %6.62 %
59 Cases · 8.35 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 %
303 Cases · 4.82 Cases per 100,000 residents
Lower Saxony
8,002,922 Population
9.58 %22.62 %4.24 %
197 Cases · 2.46 Cases per 100,000 residents
Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania
1,567,290 Population
1.88 %8.61 %3.34 %
33 Cases · 2.11 Cases per 100,000 residents
North Rhine-Westphalia
17,999,392 Population
21.55 %30.14 %4.40 %
613 Cases · 3.41 Cases per 100,000 residents
Rhineland-Palatinate
4,124,910 Population
4.94 %25.87 %3.51 %
112 Cases · 2.72 Cases per 100,000 residents
Saarland
1,008,047 Population
1.21 %24.11 %5.35 %
9 Cases · 0.89 Cases per 100,000 residents
Saxony
4,024,188 Population
4.82 %10.49 %3.41 %
113 Cases · 2.81 Cases per 100,000 residents
Saxony-Anhalt
2,121,638 Population
2.54 %9.95 %3.69 %
78 Cases · 3.68 Cases per 100,000 residents
Schleswig-Holstein
2,959,859 Population
3.54 %19.29 %4.03 %
68 Cases · 2.30 Cases per 100,000 residents
Thuringia
2,081,288 Population
2.49 %10.19 %3.49 %
57 Cases · 2.74 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 67-year-old woman allegedly injured a 39-year-old fellow resident in the face with a knife at a Bremen hostel. Police arrested the suspect at the scene.
Two teenagers allegedly threatened another teenager with a knife and demanded cash in Kiel-Wellsee. He escaped but sustained a minor hand injury while fleeing.
After a shoplifting incident in Kaufbeuren, a 26-year-old woman allegedly opened a pocketknife and tried to attack police officers. No one was injured.
During a confrontation between two groups in Regensburg, one participant reportedly went after a victim with a knife. Three people sustained minor injuries during the confrontations, but none is reported to have been injured by the knife.
A 30-year-old woman approached police officers in Hanover-Vahrenwald with two knives. When pepper spray did not stop her, officers shot and injured her; her injuries were not life-threatening.
A 30-year-old man suffered serious knife wounds during an altercation involving three men in Holzminden. Two suspects were provisionally detained; one had minor injuries.
During a dispute at accommodation in Heidenheim, a 49-year-old man reportedly caused a minor chest injury to a 27-year-old man with a knife. Police are investigating both men.
A 28-year-old woman is reported to have injured her former partner with a knife in Hamburg-Wilhelmsburg. He called the police, and she was taken to a psychiatric clinic.
Five men were injured in an altercation in Bonn-Auerberg on 18 October. Investigators say some injuries were stab wounds, but the instrument has not been established.
Four young men allegedly threatened a 54-year-old man with a knife and a gun at Reichowplatz in Bielefeld and stole money. Police detained all four nearby.
At a cemetery in Mechernich-Lessenich, a man approached and threatened a 67-year-old witness while holding a pointed object. The witness had seen him damage graves beforehand.
