Violence against employees of Deutsche Bahn and the Federal Police is rising at an alarming rate. In the first five months of this year, a total of 1,630 railway workers and 4,672 federal police officers were threatened or attacked. This marks an increase compared to previous years, according to the Federal Ministry of the Interior in response to a query by Left Party MP Dietmar Bartsch.
Particularly alarming is that an average of eight physical assaults on railway employees are recorded daily. From January to May, police registered 662 cases of bodily harm, 175 cases of dangerous bodily harm, and 661 threats against railway staff. For the Federal Police, 3,734 incidents were counted in which individuals resisted police measures, along with 1,427 physical assaults and 875 threats.
The fatal attack on a 36-year-old train conductor in Rhineland-Palatinate in February shocked the public. The employee was attacked by a passenger without a ticket during a ticket inspection and later died of his injuries in hospital. A verdict is expected this Thursday in the trial of the suspected perpetrator. Bartsch expressed concern over the rising violence and called on those responsible to urgently take measures to protect staff.
“The horrific death of train attendant Serkan C. in February, which shocked the entire country, has apparently changed nothing,” Bartsch said. “More than 650 bodily injuries and just as many threats against railway staff in just five months. If this continues, the railway is facing a new negative record of violence this year.” He demands that Federal Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt (CSU) and Deutsche Bahn CEO Evelyn Palla immediately take action to ensure the safety of employees.
Source: www.zeit.de
