Shortly after midnight on August 24, 2025, the quiet hum of Dresden’s tram line 7 was shattered by a violent incident that has since ignited fierce debate across Germany and beyond. A 21-year-old American tourist, whose name has not been released by authorities, was seriously injured in a knife attack after he bravely intervened to protect a group of female passengers from harassment by two men. The attack took place near the Goldener Reiter (Golden Rider) stop in the city center—a spot that, until now, was better known for its historic statue than for violent crime.
According to reports from Bild and Newsweek, the American man stepped between the group of harassing men and the women, hoping to defuse the situation. Instead, he found himself the target of escalating violence. One of the attackers, later identified as a 21-year-old Syrian national named Majd A., began by punching the tourist. The second man briefly left the tram, only to return moments later armed with a knife. In a sudden burst of violence, the knifeman slashed at the American’s face, causing multiple deep cuts that left the tram floor smeared with blood. Bystanders rushed to help, using tissues in an attempt to stop the bleeding until emergency services arrived.
Police and paramedics responded quickly. The American victim was transported by ambulance to a local hospital, where he remains under medical care. Authorities have confirmed that his injuries are serious, but fortunately, not life-threatening.
The two attackers fled the scene immediately after the assault. Majd A. was apprehended by Dresden police about half a mile away from the tram stop, having attempted to escape on an electric scooter. The other suspect—the one believed to have wielded the knife—remains at large, and the weapon has yet to be recovered. Police are actively searching for witnesses among the tram’s many passengers and are combing through surveillance footage for leads.
The release of Majd A. by the public prosecutor’s office has sparked outrage and bewilderment among both locals and international observers. According to Bild, Majd A. has permanent residency in Germany and a criminal record that includes previous offenses such as dangerous bodily injury, theft, and robbery. Despite this, he was released from custody after a decision by the public prosecutor’s office, which found “not enough grounds for detention.” Chief Public Prosecutor Jürgen Schmidt explained, “The knife attack cannot be attributed to him.” Police spokesman Thomas Geithner told Bild, “He was provisionally arrested and has been released by decision of the public prosecutor’s office.” Authorities have not further clarified the reasoning behind his release, a decision that has only added fuel to the public debate.
Both suspects are now under investigation for grievous bodily harm, according to Dresden police. The search for the second attacker, believed to have inflicted the knife wounds, continues. Investigators are also reviewing tram surveillance footage and appealing to the public for eyewitness accounts to help piece together the events of that night.
This attack comes at a time when Germany is grappling with a sharp increase in violent crimes involving knives. Newsweek cites a recent analysis by The European Conservative, which reported a 17 percent rise in knife attacks across Germany during the first half of 2025. The country’s response to such incidents has included stricter border controls, particularly following two high-profile knife attacks attributed to migrants last year. The Dresden incident has once again thrust the country’s migration policy—especially former Chancellor Angela Merkel’s so-called “welcome culture”—into the national spotlight.
Critics of Merkel’s open-border policy argue that it has contributed to a rise in violent crime. Petr Bystron, a Member of the European Parliament for the populist Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, did not mince words in his assessment. “This is the consequence of Merkel’s open-border policy. Attacks like this happen in Germany every single day. Now it has affected a courageous American. We must work together with Donald Trump to put an end to this madness,” Bystron said, as quoted by Bild. His remarks echo a growing sentiment among some Germans who feel that the country’s approach to migration needs urgent reform.
However, others caution against using isolated incidents to justify sweeping policy changes or to stoke anti-migrant sentiment. They point out that the vast majority of migrants in Germany live peacefully and contribute positively to society. Still, the fact that the arrested suspect had a criminal record and was released after such a serious incident has raised uncomfortable questions about how repeat offenders are handled by the justice system.
The Dresden police have made it clear that their investigation is ongoing. They continue to seek witnesses who were present on the tram during the attack and have urged anyone with information to come forward. The search for the second suspect, who remains at large, is being treated as a top priority. Meanwhile, the American victim’s condition is being closely monitored by medical staff, and the U.S. State Department has been contacted for comment, though no official statement has yet been released.
Photos from the scene, published by Bild, show a grim tableau: blood on the tram floor and the aftermath of a struggle that has left a young man scarred and a city shaken. The incident has reignited a debate that shows no signs of cooling, with politicians, law enforcement, and ordinary citizens all weighing in on the balance between public safety and humanitarian values.
As Dresden authorities press on with their investigation, the broader questions raised by this attack—about crime, migration, and justice—remain unresolved. For now, the focus remains on finding the second suspect and ensuring that the victim receives the care and support he needs. The city, and indeed the country, will be watching closely as the story continues to unfold.
