Berlin, Germany – Nearly 34,000 right-wing extremist offences were committed in Germany last year – more than at any time since the documentation of the category began in 2001.
Two thirds of these – 21,311 offences – were propaganda offences, the Interior Ministry said in response to an inquiry from the Left Party that was made available to dpa.
Police regarded another 5,097 as cases of incitement to hatred.
Of the total 33,963 right-wing motivated offences recorded by November 30, 1,136 were acts of violence, mostly involving bodily harm.
Since figures for December were still not available, it is assumed the final total for 2024 will be even higher.
The highest number of right-wing offences to date was in 2023, with a total of 28,945 cases.
Statistics on politically motivated crime are incoming statistics, meaning that offences are recorded when they become known to the police. This can lead to grey areas in determining growth trends.
Left-wing lawmaker Martina Renner called the new figures alarming.
“The majority of violent offenders are adults, but the proportion of young violent offenders is also increasing,” Renner said, adding that there are no far-reaching political countermeasures in sight.
“All too often, the fight against the right takes place solely in press conferences. It is up to civil society to show the continuity and determination that politicians lack,” she said.
(dpa)