Politically motivated crime in Germany - statistics & facts
In 2023, Germany saw the highest number of politically motivated crimes since 2016, and in fact, the number of offenses over the past five years. This is a worrying figure as politically motivated crimes cause divides to deepen within society leading to more friction and tension.
The German Bundeskriminalamt (BKA, Federal Criminal Police Office) defines politically motivated crime, in summary, as those criminal offences which aim at achieving or hindering political aims, are against the free basic democratic order and directed against other people for reasons having to do with their political views, nationality, ethnic background, skin color, religious affiliation, social status, physical and mental disabilities, sexual orientation or appearance. Specific criminal acts are then divided into politically motivated crime based on the concrete motivation and targets of the criminal: left-wing, right-wing, foreign and religious ideology. According to the BKA, terrorist acts represent the most extreme form of politically motivated crime. Politically motivated criminal offences also include violent offences.
As the political landscape in Germany change and right-wing parties become more popular, political tensions also increase. This is a driving factor behind politically motivated crime and therefore it is possible that crimes rates will continue to increase as long as political tensions are felt within society.
The German Bundeskriminalamt (BKA, Federal Criminal Police Office) defines politically motivated crime, in summary, as those criminal offences which aim at achieving or hindering political aims, are against the free basic democratic order and directed against other people for reasons having to do with their political views, nationality, ethnic background, skin color, religious affiliation, social status, physical and mental disabilities, sexual orientation or appearance. Specific criminal acts are then divided into politically motivated crime based on the concrete motivation and targets of the criminal: left-wing, right-wing, foreign and religious ideology. According to the BKA, terrorist acts represent the most extreme form of politically motivated crime. Politically motivated criminal offences also include violent offences.
Right-wing extremism
The number of right-wing extremists in Germany has generally grown in recent years. These are divided by the type of organization to which they belong and the ideology for which they express support. In 2023, there were 14,500 right-wing German extremists classified as violence-oriented or "ready for violence". That same year, almost 29,000 right-wing criminal offences were recorded in Germany. Of these crimes around 1,270 were classed as right-wing violent acts. Of criminal offences with a right-wing extremist background, by type, the highest number of offences related to propaganda. Right-wing extremist criminal offences also include acts against German asylum homes, with 82 recorded offences in 2012. Of these, six were violent. The number of attacks on homes has been generally decreasing. Figures peaked in 2015 when 1,031 homes were targeted.Left-wing extremism
On the opposite end of the political spectrum stands left-wing extremism. The number of left-wing extremist criminal offenses recorded in 2023 amounted to 4,248, this is a significantly lower number than the number of right-wing extremist criminal offenses. Of these, 727 were violent. Both figures were a slight increase compared to the previous year but still lower than figures pre-2022. Of non-violent left-wing extremist criminal offences, the most common type recorded in 2023 was property damage, at 2,301 cases. That same year, among violent acts, the highest number was committed against the government, its institutions and symbols at almost 500.As the political landscape in Germany change and right-wing parties become more popular, political tensions also increase. This is a driving factor behind politically motivated crime and therefore it is possible that crimes rates will continue to increase as long as political tensions are felt within society.
