Increase in knife attacks: Police raise the alarm in Berlin!

Increase in knife attacks: Police raise the alarm in Berlin!

In Berlin, an alarming trend in dealing with knife attacks is shown. Despite a slight decline in the overall registered knife attacks this year, the number of dangerous and serious bodily harm has increased. A total of 2650 knife attacks were registered in Berlin from January to the end of October 2024, including 1026 threats and 826 robberies, such as the Newspaper reported. It is worrying that the statistics show that the number of deeds has increased in attempted or completed homicides. This year 31 murder and homicide cases were carried out with knives, an increase compared to the 24 cases of the previous year.

police under pressure

The increase in knife attacks is also accompanied by an increase in fatal police delets. According to an evaluation of the German press agency, the officials have already shot more people this year than in previous years. It is particularly alarming that most victims were armed with knives in psychological exceptional situations. In August there were two fatal missions by police officers in North Rhine-Westphalia in August, in which knife carriers were shot that were perceived as a threat. The rules for the use of firearms are defined in the police laws: a shot may only be made to avert a current danger to life, which makes it clear, how risky dealing with knives and how immediate decisions are required by the police, such as the Rheinische Post explained.

The police union sees itself as the responsibility that decisions must be made in seconds when people occur with knives. Jochen Kopelke, the federal chairman of the union, demands more training opportunities to be better trained in dealing with mentally stressed people. Rafael Behr, a police scientist, also speaks for a new approach in the training of police officers in order to make decisions in the threat situation of more differentiated. The use of fewer fatal means such as Tasern could be a way to reduce the need for fatal use.