Hamburg is introducing a blanket ban on carrying weapons on public transport, becoming the first German state to so.
The city – one of Germany’s 16 federal states – is taking advantage of a security package recently adopted by the German government, Andy Grote, the city’s senator for the interior, told dpa on Thursday.
“Hamburg is the first federal state to systematically implement the options provided by the security package,” he said, adding that the use of public transport was increasing throughout the city and its suburbs. “That’s why we have to make sure that everyone can feel safe here.”
Details of the ban are to be presented on Monday. According to the authorities, it should come into force next week.
The German government passed a comprehensive security package after a series of serious incidents in public places, including an attack in the western city of Solingen in August in which three people died.
The measures include allowing states to issue a ban on weapons or knives on buses and trains.
