Far-right and other politically motivated crime in Germany has doubled over the past decade to hit an all-time high last year, the government said Tuesday.
Such crimes – ranging from hate speech and property offences to assault – rose by two percent to 85,837 reported cases last year, with about half motivated by right-wing ideology.
"By far the most offences were committed by right-wing and far-right perpetrators," said Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt, but he stressed that left-wing offences rose most sharply.
Security services pointed to a hardening tone in online discourse fuelling hatred and violence in the streets.
"Key drivers of societal polarisation are social media, through which hatred, incitement and propaganda are spread," said Federal Criminal Police Office chief Holger Münch.
