Germany sees new rise in far-right violence, hate crimes

After surge in 2015, Berlin reports further 14.3% increase in violent crimes with far-right motives, 3.6% hike in racist or anti-Semitic offenses

By AP 24 April 2017, 5:13 pm

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Policer officers are seen through a window during a protest against the party congress of Germany's right-wing populist Alternative for Germany (AfD) in Cologne, western Germany, on April 22, 2017. (AFP / Odd ANDERSEN)

BERLIN — Violent crimes in Germany with far-right motives rose 14.3 percent last year after a bigger increase in 2015, and the country also saw another increase in hate crimes, authorities said Monday.

The Interior Ministry said that 1,698 violent right-wing crimes were recorded in 2016, up from 1,485 the previous year. In 2015, the figure soared as Germany saw a large influx of migrants.

There was a 3.6 percent increase last year in the broader category of “hate crimes” — offenses of a racist or anti-Semitic nature or targeting people because of their religion, often in online posts. They increased to 10,751 from 10,373 after surging in 2015.

Violent politically motivated crimes targeting homes for asylum-seekers were close to the previous year’s level — 169, compared with 177 in 2015. Including nonviolent crimes such as cases involving propaganda, the total number of offenses against asylum centers slipped to 995 from 1,031.

German Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere speaks during a press conference on the crime statistics 2016 in Berlin, Germany, Monday, April 24, 2017. (AP/Michael Sohn) — German Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere speaks during a press conference on the crime statistics of 2016 in Berlin, Germany, April 24, 2017. (AP/Michael Sohn)

Violent crimes with a far-left motive dropped by a quarter in 2016 to 1,702 — a fall that was apparently due to a lack of major politically sensitive events in Germany last year.

However, politically motivated offenses by foreigners rose by two-thirds last year, largely because of the conflict between Turkey and the outlawed PKK.