Germany reports 40 percent jump in politically motivated crime

BERLIN: Germany saw a 40 percent jump in politically motivated crime last year, official data showed on Tuesday, with the federal police chief warning of a growing “radicalisation in society”.

The number of such offences, which range from hate speech to acts of physical violence, reached a record high of 84,172, almost half of them motivated by far-right ideology. Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt said political tensions were heightened in 2024 amid European and regional elections, including one in which the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) topped a state vote for the first time.

He noted a rise in crimes directed against politicians, activists and party offices. Speaking alongside Dobrindt was Holger Muench, chief of the federal police, who said the figures “reflect a polarisation and radicalisation in society” and showed that Germany´s “democracy is under pressure”.

Dobrindt noted a “fast-growing development... of extreme right-wing youth movements”, which were notably targeting events for the LGBTQ+ community. The figures also showed a 15.3 percent rise in the number of violent offences to 4,107.

Another factor driving last year´s jump in politically motivated crimes was “international crises”, notably the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza that had fuelled a rise in anti-Semitic offences.