Germany records highest spike in crimes against refugees since 2016

Last year saw more crimes targeting refugees outside of their asylum accommodation than at any time since 2016, according to provisional data recently released.

The figures show showed a 67% increase in such attacks compared to 2022.

Nationwide, there were 2,378 such offences with 313 of these involving violence, and 219 people injured in the attacks last year.

In 2022 security officials recorded 1,420 offences directed towards refugees outside their accommodation, the ministry said. At that time, 192 people were injured.

The last time the number was higher than in 2023 was in 2016, when 3,042 crimes involving attacks against asylum seekers and refugees outside their accommodation occurred according to the German Interior Ministry.

There has also been an increase in the number of attacks targeting the accommodations for asylum seekers, with centres targeted in 180 attacks last year. That is the highest level since 2017, which saw housing attacked 315 times, the ministry said.

Most of these were far-right extremist offences that should have severe criminal consequences, said Interior Minister Nancy Faeser. "Those who constantly incite hatred against refugees and create a hateful climate are partly responsible for this."

The data was released on request of Left Party lawmaker Clara Bünger, who called the increase in crimes "very worrying."

"For months, we have seen that it is not only the AfD and other extreme right-wing forces that are blatantly inciting hatred against refugees and taking their contempt for humanity to the streets," she said.

Bünger called for better ways to protect accommodation for asylum seekers, better initiatives for refugees, especially in rural areas, and a clear commitment to the right to asylum.