New Knife Ban in Berlin's Public Transport Set for Summer Implementation

The Berlin government is poised to implement a stringent knife and weapon ban across the city's public transportation system starting this summer. According to Iris Spranger, the city's Interior Senator from the Social Democratic Party (SPD), the legislation is expected to be ratified by both the SPD and the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) by the end of June.

Spranger emphasized that weapons and knives have no place in public transport, stating that the forthcoming legal regulation will clearly establish this principle. The ban will extend to all U-Bahn and S-Bahn trains, trams, buses, platforms, and train stations, enabling law enforcement to conduct checks without needing specific suspicions. Violators could face substantial fines under the new regulation.

This initiative is part of a broader strategy to combat knife-related crime in Berlin, which has witnessed a worrying increase in such incidents. Since February 15, specific zones in the city, including Görlitzer Park, Kottbusser Tor in Kreuzberg, and Leopoldplatz in Wedding, have already seen a weapons ban enacted. Reports indicate that approximately 90 knives have been confiscated in these areas since the ban was established, alongside nearly 140 recorded violations.

The new regulation will encompass all knife types and firearms, including blank-firing, gas, and signal weapons, regardless of whether the owner possesses a small weapons permit. The ban will also apply to kitchen knives and pocket knives, with no exceptions based on blade length. Signage and information materials have been distributed in the designated areas to inform the public about these restrictions.

The decision to expand the weapon and knife prohibition came in response to a recent fatal stabbing incident on a subway train. In April, a 43-year-old individual allegedly used a kitchen knife to fatally wound a 29-year-old man during an altercation on the U12 line. The suspect was subsequently shot by police after reportedly advancing towards officers while brandishing a knife, later succumbing to his injuries in a hospital.

Currently, a similar knife and weapon ban is in effect at twelve major train stations in Berlin, including Hauptbahnhof, Zoologischer Garten, and Alexanderplatz, among others. However, this regulation is set to expire on June 30 unless an extension is granted.

Authorities in Berlin have noted a rising trend in knife-related attacks in public spaces, with statistics indicating that over half of these incidents occur in open environments. In 2024 alone, the city recorded 3,412 knife-related cases, highlighting the urgency for enhanced safety measures in public transport and other crowded venues.