Woman injures 17 in Hamburg train station stabbing spree

International

AT LEAST 17 persons were injured when a woman went on a stabbing rampage at Hamburg’s Central Station on Friday evening (local time).

Authorities said the unprovoked attack was allegedly carried out by a 39-year-old German woman.

The assault, which unfolded at Germany’s busiest rail hub, left four people in critical condition and triggered a large-scale emergency response, a report by CNN said.

Dozens of first responders rushed to the scene, tending to victims and securing the area as passengers fled in panic.

Police managed to arrest the female suspect believed to have acted alone. While the motive remains unclear, officials said they are not currently treating the attack as politically motivated. Investigators are also exploring whether the suspect may have been experiencing mental distress at the time.

According to Hamburg Police, the attacker stabbed passersby seemingly at random, causing multiple critical injuries. Authorities have launched a full investigation to determine the circumstances behind the violence.

The Hamburg Fire Department reported that six people were seriously injured and seven others sustained minor wounds. Initial figures suggested several victims had life-threatening injuries, but these numbers were confirmed only after the scene was stabilized.

Video from CNN’s affiliate RTL Germany captured forensic teams inspecting the area, while officers coordinated within the station. The sprawling transit hub, which sees over 550,000 travelers daily, was temporarily disrupted as emergency services responded.

National leaders quickly condemned the attack and praised first responders.

Federal Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt called the assault “shocking,” adding, “It is shocking when travelers are attacked in a treacherous and cowardly manner.”

The incident has reignited concern over knife crime in Germany, which has seen a rise in recent years. A series of violent stabbings—some involving asylum seekers—has intensified political debate ahead of the country’s upcoming parliamentary elections.

In January, an Afghan man was arrested after a fatal knife attack in Aschaffenburg that left two people dead, including a child. Last year, a Syrian national confessed to killing three people and injuring several others at a festival in Solingen.(MyTVCebu)