Analysis

Knife attacks in Germany: statistics 2025

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 protection MesserMonitor cases

Baden-Württemberg

11,245,909 Population
311 Cases · 2.77 Cases per 100,000 residents

Bavaria

13,260,815 Population
253 Cases · 1.91 Cases per 100,000 residents

Berlin

3,701,307 Population
109 Cases · 2.94 Cases per 100,000 residents

Brandenburg

2,552,851 Population
22 Cases · 0.86 Cases per 100,000 residents

Bremen

706,901 Population
49 Cases · 6.93 Cases per 100,000 residents

Hamburg

1,869,801 Population
40 Cases · 2.14 Cases per 100,000 residents

Hesse

6,281,600 Population
259 Cases · 4.12 Cases per 100,000 residents

Lower Saxony

8,002,922 Population
174 Cases · 2.17 Cases per 100,000 residents

Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania

1,567,290 Population
27 Cases · 1.72 Cases per 100,000 residents

North Rhine-Westphalia

17,999,392 Population
508 Cases · 2.82 Cases per 100,000 residents

Rhineland-Palatinate

4,124,910 Population
102 Cases · 2.47 Cases per 100,000 residents

Saarland

1,008,047 Population
7 Cases · 0.69 Cases per 100,000 residents

Saxony

4,024,188 Population
87 Cases · 2.16 Cases per 100,000 residents

Saxony-Anhalt

2,121,638 Population
62 Cases · 2.92 Cases per 100,000 residents

Schleswig-Holstein

2,959,859 Population
42 Cases · 1.42 Cases per 100,000 residents

Thuringia

2,081,288 Population
49 Cases · 2.35 Cases per 100,000 residents

Filter cases

Cases today0
Cases in the last 7 days0
Cases in the last 30 days0
Cases matching these filters3220

Published cases by year

Data through 2025-12-31

  • 2025
Show data table
Reports by month and year
Month2025
January 321
February 279
March 307
April 251
May 311
June 299
July 275
August 279
September 257
October 252
November 239
December 150

Injured people and fatalities

Injured persons
2183
1957 cases with a specific count · 1263 without a specific count
Fatalities
109
282 cases with a specific count · 2938 without a specific count

Cases by type

  • Knife attack1440
  • Knife threat820
  • Robbery or extortion960

Threat, attempt or use of the object

  • Specific threat1479
  • Attempted use339
  • Actual use1402
  • Use level not known0

Reported injury outcomes

  • No injury392
  • Injured, severity not known597
  • Minor injury507
  • Serious injury306
  • Life-threatening injury125
  • Fatal outcome85
  • Mixed injury outcomes136
  • Injury outcome not known1072
  • Conflicting information0

3220 results

Matching cases

  1. Man robs cyclist at knifepoint in Borken

    An unknown man is alleged to have threatened a 21-year-old cyclist with a knife in Borken's city park and stolen his phone, bag and e-bike. The suspect fled on the bicycle.

    Borken · NWMore details

    Robbery/extortion