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
On a suburban train from Graben-Neudorf to Bruchsal, an unidentified man is alleged to have threatened a 22-year-old with a knife after he intervened on behalf of a woman.
An 18-year-old man is alleged to have slightly injured a 31-year-old with a knife on an underground platform at Bochum central station. The suspect was arrested.
In Berlin-Britz, two suspects allegedly threatened a man with a knife and demanded money. The man was seriously injured after falling onto the pavement while trying to flee via a balcony.
An unidentified man allegedly used pepper spray against a passer-by in Neu-Ulm and then displayed a knife in his direction. The 34-year-old man was not injured.
A 56-year-old woman is alleged to have seriously injured her daughter's partner with a knife near Gronau. A detention order was issued against her on suspicion of attempted manslaughter and dangerous bodily harm.
During a family dispute in Immenstadt, a 30-year-old woman allegedly threatened her mother with a knife. A police officer was later slightly injured during resistance to police measures.
A man allegedly threatened two employees with a knife and demanded cash at an optician's shop in Bottrop. He fled without any money and was remanded in custody after his arrest.
Two unidentified men threatened an employee at a gaming arcade in Friedrichsdorf with a machete and an object resembling a pistol. They fled with a cash box containing coins.
A 26-year-old man allegedly threatened a 22-year-old with a knife at a petrol station in Bad Münstereifel and obtained cash and a mobile phone. Pre-trial detention was ordered.
Following an argument in central Oelde, a 19-year-old allegedly threatened a 25-year-old with a knife. Police took the 19-year-old into custody and seized a kitchen knife.
Two unidentified men allegedly attacked a 36-year-old man with pepper spray in Bad Pyrmont and injured him with a knife. He underwent surgery but was not in life-threatening danger.
