17 hurt in knife attack at German train station; woman arrested

BERLIN — A stabbing attack at the busy central train station in the German city of Hamburg left multiple people injured, some of them in life-threatening condition, authorities said.

BERLIN — A stabbing attack at the busy central train station in the German city of Hamburg left multiple people injured, some of them in life-threatening condition, authorities said. A woman was arrested as the suspect.

The attacker targeted people on the platform between tracks 13 and 14 in the station at around 6 p.m., according to police. The station in downtown Hamburg, Germany’s second-biggest city, is a major hub for local, regional and long-distance trains.

Late Friday evening, Hamburg’s fire service said that 17 people in total were hurt — four of them with life-threatening injuries. Six others had serious injuries, and the remaining seven had light injuries, German news agency dpa reported.

Forensic police investigate on the railway platform at Hamburg's main train station where at least 12 people have been injured in a knife attack on May 23, 2025.Jonas Walzberg / AFP - Getty ImagesPolice said that a 39-year-old woman, a German national, was arrested at the scene without putting up resistance and that they believe after watching video footage that she acted alone. They secured the knife.

There was no immediate indication of any political motive, and investigators were looking into whether the suspect may have been mentally ill, police spokesperson Florian Abbenseth said.