A 39-year-old German woman was arrested on Friday evening after stabbing at least 17 people at Hamburg’s main train station, leaving four victims with life-threatening injuries, authorities said.

The attack occurred during the city’s busy evening rush hour, causing panic and chaos in the northern German city’s central transit hub. Emergency services rushed to the scene where the suspect was immediately apprehended by police without resistance.

“We have no evidence so far that the woman acted with a political motive,” said Hamburg police spokesperson Florian Abbenseth. “Instead, we are investigating whether she may have been experiencing a psychological emergency.”

Hamburg police confirmed the suspect acted alone and targeted passengers at the station. The federal police spokeswoman for the Hanover directorate, which covers Hamburg, echoed this, stating the attack appeared directed against travellers rather than any specific group.

Four of the victims sustained critical injuries and were rushed to nearby hospitals. Authorities blocked access to several platforms at the station to facilitate investigation and emergency response. Deutsche Bahn, Germany’s national railway operator, described the incident as “deeply shocking.”

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz expressed his condolences and shock during a call with Hamburg’s mayor following the attack.

Germany has faced a recent rise in violent incidents, raising concerns about public security. Just days before, four people were injured in a stabbing at a bar in Bielefeld, an attack now under federal investigation.

Authorities in Hamburg are continuing their probe into the motives and circumstances of the attack as the city grapples with the aftermath of this violent episode.