The A7 motorway was fully closed for a time overnight after stones were dangerously thrown onto it in Hamburg. On 1 November 2026, numerous pieces of gravel struck vehicles on the A7 federal motorway heading north between the junctions at Hamburg-Bahrenfeld and Hamburg-Volkspark. According to the Hamburg Police at around 20:13, at least two cars were damaged; a 27-year-old passenger sustained minor injuries and received outpatient treatment.
Several media outlets, including NDR, reported that around 200 stones had been thrown. In its initial statements, police confirmed damage and injuries but did not initially give a verified total number of projectiles. Emergency crews temporarily closed sections of the A7 completely to collect evidence and clear the scene, with traffic diverted locally.
Hamburg police are investigating on suspicion of dangerous interference with road traffic. This offence is punishable by imprisonment or a fine. Police launched a search immediately after the incident and appealed to witnesses for information. The Tagesschau reported, citing information from investigators, that young people had been provisionally arrested. However, the initial official police statements contained no detailed, conclusively confirmed information on this. The assessment of the incident and any further measures at the bridge in question will depend on the ongoing investigation.
The incident highlights a recurring safety risk at overpasses: objects thrown down can smash windscreens at motorway speeds or startle drivers, potentially causing serious accidents. Police regularly advise people to report suspicious activity on bridges immediately and to provide investigators with dashcam or mobile phone footage relating to the time of the incident.
Those directly affected should document damage and injuries promptly and report them to the police so that civil and criminal proceedings can be considered. The relevant authorities will assess whether additional safety measures are needed at the overpass between Hamburg-Bahrenfeld and Hamburg-Volkspark once the forensic examination is complete.
The A7 is one of Germany’s busiest north–south routes. Incidents such as the stone-throwing now under investigation can therefore quickly cause significant disruption well beyond the scene itself.
Editor: Mira Cadena (Article created with AI assistance).