Attacks on Refugee Accommodations Surge in Germany

Politically motivated attacks on refugee accommodations in Germany surged by 22 percent in 2024, with authorities recording 218 incidents throughout the year. A government response to a parliamentary inquiry by Die Linke reveals a rise in violence and intimidation targeting refugees and asylum seekers.

The 28 violent attacks on residents included 12 cases of aggravated assault, seven cases of assault, four instances of arson, two cases of severe arson, two explosions and one violation of explosives laws. Beyond physical violence, perpetrators frequently resorted to intimidation and vandalism. Authorities reported 56 cases of property damage, 55 instances of using unconstitutional symbols and 39 cases of hate speech.

As the following chart shows, attacks rose to a peak during the 2015-2016 crisis of migration policy, when nearly 1,000 attacks on asylum accommodations were recorded in a single year. Still, the troubling rise highlighted in the latest numbers raise urgent questions about growing hostility toward refugees and the effectiveness of measures to prevent such crimes.

This chart and article were originally created by Mathias Brandt for the German platform, available in German.