17 Critically Injured In Knife Attack At German Railway Station, 39-Year-Old Woman Arrested

Several people were critically injured in a knife attack at the main railway station in the German city of Hamburg, the police have said. 

While the city's fire department said 17 people were injured in the attack, the police said they did not have a valid figure for the number of victims but said that people suffered life-threatening injuries in the attack. 

A 39-year-old woman has been arrested by the cops, said Hamburg police for the attack that took place at the city's Central Station at about 6 pm local time on Friday. 

A Hamburg fire department spokesperson told AFP news agency that 17 people had been injured and that some of the injuries were life-threatening. 

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Suspect 'Mentally Distressed'

Hamburg police also confirmed the incident on X saying several people who were hurt had sustained life-threatening injuries. 

The police said they believed the suspect acted alone and did not have a "political motive". Rather, she may have been in a "state of mental distress," Florian Abbenseth, a police spokesperson, told reporters, according to BBC.

The attack took place between platforms 13 and 14, which are accessible via a busy main road - while a train was on one of the platforms.

As per reports, some of the victims were treated inside trains. 

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German Chancellor Reacts

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said the incident was "shocking" and thanked the emergency services on the ground for "their rapid assistance." 

German rail operator Deustche Bahn said four platforms at the station were closed after the attack, adding that some services would experience delays and diversions. 

Hamburg Central Station is one of Germany's busiest transport hubs, with over 5,50,000 commuters per day according to its website. The facility usually remains crowded during Friday rush hour. 

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