Knife attack in Bernau: teenager threatens police officers in the schoolyard!

Knife attack in Bernau: teenager threatens police officers in the schoolyard!

An incident occurred in Bernau Barnim today that once again draws attention to the worrying situation of juvenile crime. A 16-year-old was loud and kicked a fence on school grounds. He was approached by a 48-year-old who identified himself as a police officer. But the teenager reacted with aggressive behavior and pulled out a knife before trying to escape. The 48-year-old finally grabbed him and handed him over to uniformed colleagues. Now the young person must answer for his actions while the police examine the measures taken and the background to the incident. barnim-aktuell reports on this frightening incident, which once again fuels the discussion about violence among young people.

Knife violence among children and young people is an issue that is increasingly coming into focus not only in Bernau, but also throughout Germany. According to ZDF today, police statistics show a dramatic increase in knife attacks. In North Rhine-Westphalia alone, over 3,500 knife attacks were registered in 2023, a scary increase of 43% compared to the year before. What is particularly alarming is that a majority of perpetrators are under 21 years old and almost 8% of suspects are children up to 13 years old.

Causes of the violence

What is leading to this worrying development? Experts suspect that so-called “masculinity posturing” is a driving force behind such acts of violence. Professor Marc Allroggen points out that in certain subcultures knives are viewed as status symbols. Many young people carry these with them out of a feeling of insecurity or as part of their life situation. In many cases, these problems come directly into play in the school environment.

The numbers speak for themselves: almost every second teacher in Germany has witnessed violence among students. A Statista survey shows that crimes among suspected children and young people are increasing again. Theft and bodily harm are particularly addressed. Even after the corona pandemic, there has been an increase in violence among young people, which further increases the concerns of parents and teachers.

Prevention measures in schools

In order to counteract this development, measures are being taken at schools in several cities - such as Essen - to improve the feeling of security. These include structural changes, additional alarm systems and increased security staff. Schools should also increasingly promote democratic behavior and non-violent conflict resolution.

But it's not just physical violence that's a problem. Cyberbullying is also becoming more prevalent. A study shows that experiences with cyberbullying among young people increased slightly in 2023. Over 80% of parents would like anti-violence training in schools to make children and young people aware of these issues.

The current incidents, such as those in Bernau, make it clear that the issue of violence in schools is still very topical and requires urgent action. Society must work together to find solutions to provide our children with a safe and respectful learning environment.