Why are there so many knife attacks in Germany?
Germany has seen a significant increase in knife attacks, especially in urban areas and train stations. The recent fatal stabbing at a festival in Solingen has further strengthened calls for stricter rules on knives.
Interior Minister Nancy Faeser has proposed reducing the permitted blade length in public places and creating more gun- and knife-free zones. Despite existing restrictions on certain knives, such as jumping knives and butterfly knives, the number of knife-related attacks continues to rise, with nearly 9,000 serious cases by 2023, according to the police.
Chancellor Olaf Scholz and other officials have promised tough measures, but experts such as criminologist Dirk Baier argue in German media that stricter laws alone will not solve the problem. Baier stresses the need for social measures, such as youth education, to address the root causes of knife crime.
The problem has also become politically charged, with right-wing parties using it to win support ahead of the upcoming state elections.
(Tagtik/Source: Guardian, ARD/Illustration picture: picture alliance/dpa | Christoph Reichwein)
