Federal police register more knife attacks - Faeser wants to act fast
The Federal Police's figures only represent a portion of incidents in Germany. They are responsible for securing train stations, airports, and borders. According to "BamS", the Federal Police recorded 197 additional cases in the first half of the year where knives were carried but not used, in addition to knife-related violent crimes. In total, they registered 467 such cases at train stations.
According to the nationwide police crime statistics, the number of dangerous and severe bodily injuries involving knives last year was 8,951 cases, nearly 800 more than in 2022.
Following a series of knife attacks in recent months, Faeser's ministry confirmed concrete plans to tighten weapons laws, particularly regarding knives. "We want to limit the carrying of knives in public to a blade length of six centimeters, down from the current twelve," Faeser wrote on Sunday on the online service X. "We want to impose a general ban on dangerous switchblades."
The minister told "BamS" that she will further restrict the carrying of knives in public spaces in the new weapons law. Exceptions should only apply to household knives "in closed containers after purchase." The Interior Ministry will present corresponding amendments to the weapons law "in the near future."
Similar tightening had previously been demanded by the federal states. Faeser now called on municipalities to create more "weapon and knife-free zones." Knife bans "must be consistently enforced, as the Federal Police does with controls at train stations," she said.
Bavaria's Interior Minister Joachim Herrmann (CSU) criticized Faeser's plans as "symbolic politics." He doubted that further knife bans could solve the problem of knife crime: "For example, the terrible knife attack in Mannheim was carried out with a knife whose possession is already banned under current law," he told the "Munich Mercury" (Monday edition).
In Germany, the acquisition and possession of certain knives, such as butterfly knives, are already prohibited. Violations can result in a prison sentence of up to three years or a fine. According to the Federal Ministry of the Interior, knives with a one-handed opening mechanism, so-called one-handed knives, and fixed-blade knives with a blade length of over twelve centimeters may not be carried outside one's own home or property. Violations can result in a fine.
I'm not going to sugarcoat it, the knife-related incidents in Germany are alarming. As Faeser mentioned, the Federal Police recorded an increase in such cases, despite existing regulations prohibiting certain types of knives.
