Police in Germany recorded significantly more politically motivated attacks on refugees and refugee accommodation in 2023 than in previous years, according to the Neue Osnabrücker Zeitung (NOZ). The German newspaper cited figures from the Interior Ministry, which were requested by Left Party politician Clara Bünger.

According to these figures, authorities registered a total of 2,378 attacks on refugees, including 313 violent crimes and 219 people were injured.

Last year recorded the highest number of crimes against refugees since 2016, according to NOZ. In 2022, authorities registered 1,249 attacks on refugees, showing that attacks almost doubled.

According to the Interior Ministry, authorities also registered 180 crimes against refugee accommodation – the highest figure since 2017. In 2022, the number of attacks on refugee shelters was 70.

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Politician blames anti-migrant rhetoric for rise in crimes against refugees 

For Bünger, "the enormous increase in crimes" against migrants comes as no surprise, thanks to Germany implementing tougher deportation rules, the EU tightening its asylum policy and the success of the far-right Alternative for Germany party (Afd).

"It is no wonder that racists feel emboldened in such a social situation to put the omnipresent resentment into action and attack refugees," German news agency EPD cited Bünger as saying.

The politician called for the consistent prosecution of far-right extremist crimes, safe refugee accommodation and a clear commitment from Germany on the right to asylum.

With EPD and AFP

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