A man holds a knife in his hand (symbol photo) Photo: picture alliance / Zoonar | Elmar Gubisch
From BZ/dpa
The number of registered attacks with a knife has recently increased again in Berlin.
Last year, the police recorded 3,317 cases attributed to the “knife attack” crime category. The Senate replied to an AfD request published on Friday. In 2021 there were 2777 cases and in 2020 less than 2600 cases.
Even before the corona pandemic, the numbers were below 3,000, but a comparison is difficult due to changes in the way crime statistics are recorded. In 2022, the police identified 2,428 suspected perpetrators of the knife attacks. Of these, 1,194 had German and 1,234 foreign citizenship.
Young men in particular in some neighborhoods attract the attention of the police because knives are found on them. Police chief Barbara Slowik only complained at the turn of the year that young people and children were increasingly carrying and using knives.
“Unfortunately, that has increased. We are looking at this development very closely,” said Slowik at the end of last year.
Chief of Police Barbara Slowik Photo: Gunther
The attacks would often happen among groups. “They go out together, meet other groups and then there are arguments, and also with the use of knives.”