Increased instances of violent crimes recorded at train stations by federal law enforcement agencies

In the first half of 2025, Germany has seen a mixed picture when it comes to crime statistics. While some areas have witnessed a decrease in criminal activities, others have shown an unfortunate increase.

One of the positive developments is the decrease in drug-related crimes. The Federal Police reported a significant drop, with the number of drug-related cases decreasing from 5,839 to 4,475 compared to the same period last year. This decrease is a promising sign in the ongoing fight against drug abuse and related crimes.

Another encouraging trend is the decrease in knife attacks, both on trains and at train stations. The number of knife attacks on trains remained relatively stable, with 68 cases in the first half of 2025, compared to 65 in the same period last year. At train stations, the number decreased slightly, from 251 to 244 cases.

However, the decrease in overall crime was not reflected in all categories. The number of sexual offenses slightly increased, going from 1,125 cases in the first half of 2024 to 1,076 cases in the first half of 2025. Similarly, the number of property damage cases increased from 16,786 to 17,595, and the number of weapons offenses increased from 589 to 808.

Interestingly, most suspects for property crimes (7,565) and sexual offenses (349) in the first half of 2025 were not German. Conversely, the majority of suspects for violent crimes (5,711), property damage (1,493), drug-related crimes (1,493), and weapons offenses (480) were German.

The increase in violent crimes and weapons offenses has led to calls for increased police presence, particularly at train stations and on trains. AfD politician Martin Hess has advocated for a "zero-tolerance strategy towards violent offenders" and the "consistent deportation of criminal foreigners."

Notably, the Hamburg main station experienced a violent crime with ongoing police operations on May 23, 2025, leading to the closure of platforms and disruptions in long-distance traffic.

The Federal Police also reported a higher number of acts of violence and weapons offenses at German train stations and on trains in the first half of 2025 compared to the same period in 2024. As the year progresses, it will be interesting to see how these trends continue to develop and how authorities respond to address the challenges posed by these crimes.