The number of knife attacks in Germany continues to climb, with new figures from the Federal Police revealing a significant rise in violent crimes involving blades. Data shows a 17% increase in such incidents in the first half of 2025 compared to the same period last year.
According to data released in response to a parliamentary inquiry from AfD MP Martin Hess, the German Federal Police recorded 737 knife-related crimes between January and June 2025, which is 107 more than in the first six months of 2024.
Of the 737 total recorded crimes, 278 involved German suspects. Non-Germans were identified as suspects in 270 cases. Although they make up 14.86% of the population, they accounted for 36.64% of all suspects. Criminals from an immigrant background are overrepresented in almost all violent crime types in Germany.
When broken down by nationality, Syrian citizens represented the largest group among non-German suspects, with 29 cases. Afghans followed with 23 cases. Other nationalities of suspects included Turks, Ukrainians, Romanians, Moroccans, Algerians, Bulgarians and Tunisians.
In 64% of knife crimes committed by foreigners the knife was actively used. Algerians and Afghans were most likely to stab their victims, topping the list for highest knife usage rates, with both groups using knives in 83% of cases. Syrians actively used the weapon in over 76% of cases, while Moroccans in 71% of the crimes committed.
Most knife-related crimes occurred at train stations (409), followed by incidents on railway tracks (108). An additional 193 cases were recorded in areas such as station forecourts and near Germany’s external borders. In the past, tragic stabbings have already happened in train stations, prompting locals to feel unsafe in these areas.
AfD interior affairs expert Martin Hess attributed much of the increase in knife crime to migration, calling it “in large part a direct consequence of mass migration.” He accused “left-wing, red, and green ideologues” of “denial of reality,” arguing that “citizens pay the price for a total failure in migration policy.”
Hess criticized the government’s reliance on measures such as weapons ban zones, stating that the CDU/CSU “simulates a change of course” while avoiding “effective border protection and large-scale deportations.” He concluded, “Our public spaces must not become zones of fear.”
