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German Federal Police Defend Station Sweeps After Photo of Seizures Draws Online Criticism

Authorities cite persistent violence at rail hubs to justify preventive checks under temporary weapons bans.

Overview

  • About 1,000 officers conducted focused controls at 36 train stations from Friday evening to Sunday morning, checking roughly 11,000 people.
  • Federal police reported seizing more than 200 items and initiating around 60 proceedings for violent crimes along with about 20 for weapons-law violations.
  • The operation also resulted in more than 200 place bans, approximately 300 preventive warning talks and encounters with 23 people wanted on arrest warrants.
  • A police photo of confiscations featuring knives, pepper sprays, a craft scissor, a Swiss Army knife and a single joint prompted widespread mockery on X over proportionality.
  • Legal measures remain in force in Berlin through October 27 that allow preventive searches, while a Bavaria-focused push saw 270 officers check roughly 700 people and arrest a suspect in a bottle attack who is now in pretrial detention.