At the main train station in Gelsenkirchen, the federal police stopped a 17-year-old who was carrying an illegal knife on Friday evening.
As the authority announced on Saturday, the youngster was noticed by a patrol who then checked him on the platform.
The 17-year-old carried the so-called karambit, a claw-shaped knife, in his jacket pocket.
Gelsenkirchen - Why he had the knife with him was not known at first.
The police officers seized the weapon and initiated an investigation into the violation of the weapons law.
Karambit knives are originally from Southeast Asia.
In Germany they fall under the Weapons Act and may not be owned by minors.
dpa
