In the first half of 2024, German police recorded 519 attacks on migrants, including offenses such as incitement to hatred and grievous bodily harm. This marks a significant decline compared to 2023, with a regional concentration of incidents in two federal states.
According to a response by the German government to a parliamentary inquiry from the Left Party group in the Bundestag, the police documented 519 attacks on migrants nationwide during the first six months of 2024. The news agency AFP obtained the government’s response, which was initially reported by the “Neue Osnabrücker Zeitung” (NOZ).
The recorded offenses included various crimes such as incitement to hatred, coercion, and grievous bodily harm. Of these, 70 cases were classified as violent crimes by the police, resulting in injuries to 46 individuals, including six children.
Right-wing political motivations and attacks on refugee shelters
The data revealed that 88 percent of all incidents were politically motivated by right-wing ideology. Additionally, there were 69 attacks on refugee accommodations reported in the statistics.
In comparison, the entire year of 2023 saw 2,450 attacks on migrants, with 1,155 occurring in the first half of that year. These numbers indicate a significant decrease in the first half of 2024. However, the German government emphasized the provisional nature of the provided figures, noting that they could still be subject to “considerable changes.”
Regional hotspots: Saxony and Thuringia
The report highlighted a regional concentration of these incidents in Saxony and Thuringia, where state elections are scheduled for September 1. Of the 286 attacks on migrants nationwide in the second quarter of 2024, Saxony accounted for the most (41), followed by Thuringia (35). Other states with high numbers included Bavaria (31), Lower Saxony (30), and Brandenburg (29).
Clara Bünger, a Left Party member of the Bundestag, commented on the situation, stating, “On average, more than three crimes against refugees are committed every day, in addition to racist graffiti, property damage, and bomb attacks in refugee shelters.” She linked these incidents to racist or xenophobic statements from politicians and demands for widespread deportations, suggesting that such rhetoric empowers “racists to go on a manhunt and terrorize refugees.”
