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Woman arrested after 17 people injured in knife attack at Hamburg train station Woman arrested after 17 people injured in knife attack at Hamburg train station
(31 minutes later)
Four victims critically wounded in attack by 39-year-old assailant in Germany’s second-largest city Four victims critically wounded in attack by 39-year-old alleged assailant in Germany’s second-largest city
German police have arrested a woman after 17 people were injured in a knife attack at the main station in the northern city of Hamburg. German police have arrested a woman after 17 people were injured in a knife attack at Hamburg’s main railway station.
The attack happened at about 6.30pm local time (5.30pm BST), with Hamburg police saying on X that they were carrying out a major operation in Germany’s second-largest city. The attack happened at about 6.30pm local time (5.30pm BST), with Hamburg police saying on social media that they were carrying out a major operation in Germany’s second-largest city.
They later confirmed a 39-year-old German woman had been arrested without resisting and said that she was thought to have “acted alone”. They later confirmed a 39-year-old German woman had been arrested and said that she was thought to have “acted alone”.
Late last night, Hamburg’s fire service said 17 people were hurt in total – four of them with life-threatening injuries, another six with serious injuries and seven with light injuries, German news agency dpa reported. Late on Friday, Hamburg’s fire service said 17 people were hurt in total – four of them with life-threatening injuries, another six with serious injuries and seven with light injuries, German news agency dpa reported.
There did not appear to be any political motive for the attack, police said.There did not appear to be any political motive for the attack, police said.
“We have no evidence so far that the woman may have had a political motive,” local police spokesperson Florian Abbenseth told journalists at the scene, in comments broadcast by ARD public television.“We have no evidence so far that the woman may have had a political motive,” local police spokesperson Florian Abbenseth told journalists at the scene, in comments broadcast by ARD public television.
Police were instead pursuing the theory that the suspect may have “been experiencing a psychological emergency”.Police were instead pursuing the theory that the suspect may have “been experiencing a psychological emergency”.
The office of the chancellor, Friedrich Merz, said the newly-elected German leader was appalled by the news and told Hamburg’s mayor, Peter Tschentscher, in a phone call yesterday evening that his “thoughts are with the victims and their relatives”. The office of the chancellor, Friedrich Merz, said the German leader was appalled by the news and told Hamburg’s mayor, Peter Tschentscher, in a phone call yesterday evening that his “thoughts are with the victims and their relatives”.
The suspect was thought to have carried out the attack “against passengers” at the station, a spokesperson for the Hanover federal police directorate, which also covers Hamburg, told AFP earlier last night. The suspect was thought to have carried out the attack “against passengers” at the station, a spokesperson for the Hanover federal police directorate, which also covers Hamburg, told AFP earlier on Friday.
Images of the scene showed access to the platforms at one end of the station blocked off by police and people being loaded into waiting ambulances.Images of the scene showed access to the platforms at one end of the station blocked off by police and people being loaded into waiting ambulances.
Later images showed forensics teams carefully examining the station.Later images showed forensics teams carefully examining the station.
Some of the victims in the attack were being treated onboard waiting trains in the station, Bild reported shortly after the attack.Some of the victims in the attack were being treated onboard waiting trains in the station, Bild reported shortly after the attack.
The German rail operator Deutsche Bahn said on X that four platforms at the station had been closed. The German rail operator Deutsche Bahn said on social media that four platforms at the station had been closed.
The incident would lead to “delays and diversions in long-distance servi-ces”, the rail operator said on X. The incident would lead to “delays and diversions in long-distance services”, the rail operator said.
Carrying weapons, including knives, is banned at the station and on local transport in Hamburg.
Germany has been rocked in recent months by a series of violent attacks with often jihadist or far-right extremist motivations that have put security at the top of the agenda.Germany has been rocked in recent months by a series of violent attacks with often jihadist or far-right extremist motivations that have put security at the top of the agenda.
In the most recent attack, four people were injured in a stabbing at a bar in the city of Bielefeld in north-west Germany, on Sunday.In the most recent attack, four people were injured in a stabbing at a bar in the city of Bielefeld in north-west Germany, on Sunday.