Abstract A soot filter for diesel engines is described, having an inlet for introduction of exhaust gases, an outlet and a filter zone situated between inlet and outlet, which filter zone is provided with a multiplicity of tube-shaped porous ceramic filter cartridges or filter cylinders, through the cylindrical walls of which the exhaust gas enters radially and through the axial inner space of which the exhaust gas leaves axially, the ends of the filter cartridges or filter cylinders being elastically mounted and sealed radially by means of a casing of metal knitted fabric, metal honeycomb, metal netting or metal mesh and axially by means of a disc. <IMAGE>