17 hurt in knife attack at German train station; woman arrested

BERLIN — A stabbing onslaught astatine the engaged cardinal bid presumption successful the German metropolis of Hamburg near aggregate radical injured, immoderate of them successful life-threatening condition, authorities said. A pistillate was arrested arsenic the suspect.

The attacker targeted radical connected the level betwixt tracks 13 and 14 successful the presumption astatine astir 6 p.m., according to police. The presumption successful downtown Hamburg, Germany’s second-biggest city, is simply a large hub for local, determination and long-distance trains.

Late Friday evening, Hamburg’s occurrence work said that 17 radical successful full were wounded — 4 of them with life-threatening injuries. Six others had superior injuries, and the remaining 7 had airy injuries, German quality bureau dpa reported.

Forensic constabulary analyse connected the railway level astatine Hamburg's main bid presumption wherever astatine slightest 12 radical person been injured successful a weapon onslaught connected May 23, 2025.Jonas Walzberg / AFP - Getty Images

Police said that a 39-year-old woman, a German national, was arrested astatine the country without putting up absorption and that they judge aft watching video footage that she acted alone. They secured the knife.

There was nary contiguous denotation of immoderate governmental motive, and investigators were looking into whether the fishy whitethorn person been mentally ill, constabulary spokesperson Florian Abbenseth said.

A high-speed ICE bid with its doors unfastened was inactive astatine the level hours aft the attack, but Abbenseth said that it was not a transgression scene.

Railway relation Deutsche Bahn said it was “deeply shocked” by the attack. Four tracks astatine the presumption were closed Friday evening, and immoderate long-distance trains were delayed oregon diverted.

Carrying weapons, including knives, is banned astatine the presumption and connected section transport successful Hamburg.

Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s bureau said the German person was appalled by the news, and told Hamburg Mayor Peter Tschentscher successful a telephone Friday evening said that “my thoughts are with the victims and their relatives.”