Germany records highest right-wing violent crime level since 2016

Police in Germany recorded the highest number of right-wing motivated violent offences in 2025 since 2016, according to a government response to a parliamentary inquiry by the opposition Left Party.

The response, seen by dpa, indicated that Germany’s federal states reported a total of 1,598 such offences to the Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA) by the reporting cut-off date of January 31, 2026.

Most of the cases prompted investigations on suspicion of bodily harm or grievous bodily harm.

The data shows a continued upward trend compared to previous years. In 2024, authorities recorded 1,488 right-wing motivated violent offences, while in 2023 the figure stood at 1,270.

Officials noted that the 2025 figures may still be revised due to late reporting. This delay occurs partly because cases must first be transmitted from the federal states to the BKA, and also because the political motivation behind certain offences is sometimes determined only at a later stage.

At the same time, the total number of right-wing motivated offences — including non-violent crimes — declined slightly in 2025, falling from 42,788 to 42,544.

Authorities classify politically motivated offences as including acts such as denigrating the state and its symbols, incitement to hatred, and insults. Violent offences within this category include homicides, bodily harm, breaches of the peace, dangerous interference with road traffic, deprivation of liberty, and offences involving resistance to law enforcement officers.

By Tamilla Hasanova