Knife power in Berlin: Police controls show the first successes!

Knife power in Berlin: Police controls show the first successes!

The increasing violence with knives in Berlin and all of Germany is perceived by the authorities and society. A current incident at the train station in the eastern part of Berlin illustrates the problem of knife power. There was a police check of a young man from Ukraine, who could not understand why he should show his passport and be searched. It is particularly noted that by June 30, driving dangerous objects in Berlin, including knives, is prohibited. Control locations include the main train station, zoological garden and Alexanderplatz, where the police already secured numerous dangerous objects to counteract violence. 

In the first two weeks of the weapon ban, 81 knives, 36 times irritable gas and other dangerous objects were confiscated. Interestingly, most controlled items have no dangerous items with them, but young people under the age of 30 are often identified as the target group of checks. Ahmad Mohammed, a former problem case and now bodyguard, observes the increasing trend of knife attacks with great concern. According to him, the willingness to use violence among young people in schools and is reinforced by platforms such as Tiktok, which propagate a dangerous view of violence.

increase in knife attacks in Germany

The numbers are alarming: According to the police crime statistics, there were a total of 29,000 knife attacks in Germany in 2023, which represents a significant increase compared to previous years. Ten knife attacks per day were registered in Berlin last year. The increase in bodily harm among children and adolescents speaks for themselves: Since 2024, the number of serious violent offenses among young people has increased by 28% and even 49.7% in children under the age of 14. The recording of these acts shows that knife power is increasingly a big city phenomenon.

With the tightening of the weapons law since October 2024, knife -free zones have been introduced in public locations. In addition, authorities can now set up weapon ban zones more easily. Criminologist Britta Bannenberg welcomed the introduction of these measures as a necessary step to increase security in crime.

social reactions and measures

Reporting on this trend is not enough; A national action plan to combat knife power is also needed. Dirk Baier, a criminologist, demands more funds for social work and preventive measures to reduce visible aggression in the urban rooms. However, it should be noted that, despite tighter laws, complete security cannot be guaranteed. Political voices repeatedly call up to enforce the measures consistently and to sensitize the public to the dangers of knife power.

politics and society face a challenge that is increasingly perceived as a serious threat. The fatal incident in February 2024, in which two Ukrainian basketball players were stabbed in Oberhausen, is only the top of the iceberg. Crime with knives shows that persistent awareness and strategic political measures are urgently necessary to ensure security in public space.

These developments are the subject of many discussions in Berlin and will remain in the focus of media reporting. The increase in knife attacks is a source of concern for many and therefore requires determined measures to protect citizens.

More on the backgrounds and statistics of the knife power in Germany can be found at Berliner Zeitung , Tagesschau and .