New details about the Hamburg attack
In a shocking incident that shook the city of Hamburg, a 39-year-old woman holding German nationality randomly stabbed several passengers at Hamburg's main train station, resulting in 18 injuries, including four with life-threatening wounds. The incident occurred on Friday evening around six o'clock, on the crowded platforms 13 and 14, while travelers were waiting for the departure of the "ICE" train heading to Munich.
The police announced the next day that all the injured, including the four who sustained serious injuries to the chest and neck areas, were in stable condition. The serious victims are three women aged between 24 and 85 years, and a 24-year-old man. The remaining injuries ranged from serious to minor.
Eyewitnesses reported that the attack happened very quickly, so much so that some victims did not realize they had been stabbed until they started bleeding. The attack was stopped thanks to the brave intervention of two passersby, who managed to subdue the attacker until the police arrived and arrested her. A video that later circulated showed the moment the woman, who was wearing dark clothing and carrying a backpack, was apprehended.
The police confirmed that there are no indications of a political or religious motive, but there is strong evidence suggesting psychological distress in the suspect. No indicators of alcohol or drug use were found. The police have requested to place the woman in a psychiatric hospital, and she is scheduled to be presented to the investigating judge.
The station resumed operations on Saturday morning, after the police spent the night collecting evidence from the crime scene, located in an outdoor waiting area. Despite the resumption of movement, many travelers stood contemplating the place where the investigators' marks were still visible.
The security authorities, including the criminal investigation unit, have launched a comprehensive investigation. The police indicated that the woman had previously exhibited aggressive behavior under difficult psychological circumstances, supporting the hypothesis that she was in a state of mental disturbance at the time of the incident.
It is noted that the Hamburg station area has been under a general ban on carrying weapons since October 2023, and in December 2024, the Senate imposed a special ban on carrying knives in public transport, but this did not prevent the incident. The "AfD" party exploited the incident to question the effectiveness of these measures, pointing out that the number of knife attacks has not decreased despite the new laws.
In the midst of this, the head of the Federal Police Union, Andreas Ruskob, called for the introduction of AI-supported surveillance systems at stations to monitor abnormal behaviors in advance, although this may not have prevented the current attack.
In political reactions, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) and Hamburg Mayor Peter Tschentscher (SPD) expressed their deep shock, while Kirsten Fehrs, chair of the Protestant Church Council in Germany, expressed her solidarity with all those affected, saying: "The violent attack is a shock to Hamburg."
On his part, the Commissioner for Accident Victims in Hamburg, Arne Dörnkefast, announced the provision of psychological and physical support for all those affected by the incident. The police activated an online platform to receive information, photos, and videos from witnesses to assist in the investigation.