Suspicious suitcases at the main train station: Ernst-August-Platz closed!

Suspicious suitcases at the main train station: Ernst-August-Platz closed!

On Tuesday evening, October 14th, there was excitement at Ernst-August-Platz in Hanover due to two suspicious suitcases. The security service noticed the suitcases around 6:15 p.m. and immediately informed the responsible authorities. The square in front of the main train station was immediately cordoned off while the federal police, who quickly arrived at the scene, took over the cordon. This happened even though the square is officially under the jurisdiction of the Hanover police haz.de reported.

In addition, the Niki de Saint Phalle Promenade was also cordoned off for safety reasons. A Federal Police delaborator was called in to check the suitcases. After an X-ray examination, the all-clear was quickly given: the suitcases were empty and classified as harmless. The closure of Ernst-August-Platz finally ended at around 7:10 p.m. after officials were able to ensure that the suitcases posed no danger.

A dangerous connection

These incidents are part of a larger problem affecting German train stations. According to a current evaluation by the Federal Police, particularly large train stations like the one in Hanover are often the scene of crimes. With 3,013 crimes in the first five months of 2025, Cologne Central Station ranks as one of the most dangerous train stations in Germany, while Hanover comes in sixth place World reported. Hundreds of crimes are recorded here every day, including bodily harm, theft and fraud.

In a worrying trend, the proportion of non-German suspects has fallen slightly to 35.9 percent in 2025, compared to the previous year, where the proportion was 40.8 percent. This raises questions about appropriate measures to combat crime. Political voices are therefore calling for a security offensive - including improved video surveillance in crime hotspots.

Theft in the train station

Another incident that caused a stir on Monday morning was the theft of a suitcase in Hanover Central Station. Travelers informed the federal police about the abandoned suitcase that had previously been stolen. The analysis of surveillance videos quickly led to the arrest of a 24-year-old Algerian who had stolen the suitcase of a 61-year-old man. Despite fleeing onto an S-Bahn, the perpetrator left the suitcase on the platform and was arrested by officers a short time later. His criminal record was already tainted by robbery and theft offenses. The Algerian was sentenced to prison for obtaining benefits by fraud and theft, although the verdict is not yet final presseportal.de reported.

These events in Hanover clearly show that not only the general safety of citizens, but also trust in public transport is at stake. Citizens are required to be vigilant and report suspicious activity to ensure everyone's safety. The police are aware of this and are continually working to improve safety in public areas.