Photo: Shutterstock Violence is once again surging in the German capital.
On Friday, a deadly stabbing on Berlin’s U12 subway line in the Charlottenburg district left two men dead — the attacker and his victim — in one of the city’s most shocking public incidents this year.
According to Berlin police, the violence began with an argument between two men who did not know each other. During the confrontation, the 43-year-old suspect pulled out a kitchen knife and stabbed the 29-year-old man three times, one of the blows piercing the victim’s heart. Although he managed to exit the train at Sophie-Charlotte-Platz station, he collapsed on the platform and died shortly after.
The attacker fled the scene and was later spotted by an undercover police officer on Schloßstraße. When the suspect advanced toward the officer with the knife still drawn, the officer opened fire. Three bullets struck the suspect. He was taken to the hospital in critical condition, underwent emergency surgery, but died from his injuries the following morning.
Police confirmed that both the attacker — a Syrian citizen — and the victim — a German national — were known to law enforcement for prior offenses, including assault, resisting arrest, and drug-related crimes. At this stage, there is no indication of ideological, religious, or terrorist motives. Authorities are treating the case as suspected manslaughter.
Just a day earlier, on Thursday, another troubling incident added to the rising tensions in the city. In the Friedenau district, a Jewish man standing on his balcony and visibly wearing a Star of David was subjected to antisemitic abuse and had a bottle thrown at him. Two suspects were arrested, and the case is now being handled by the Staatsschutz, the Berlin police division specializing in politically and antisemitically motivated crimes.
The back-to-back incidents have intensified public pressure on authorities to restore a sense of security in the city. Berlin police announced an increased presence in sensitive areas, particularly around public transportation and central streets.