The number of politically motivated offences reported to the police in Germany reached a new record last year.
The 60,028 recorded offences represent the highest level since the statistics were introduced in 2001, according to the 2023 statistics presented in Berlin on Tuesday.
The increase in politically motivated crimes is less than 2% compared to 2022. There were 3,561 cases of violent offences, almost 12% less than in 2022.
Propaganda offences, such as the use of symbols of unconstitutional organizations, accounted for the lion's share of crimes at one-third.
The statistics on politically motivated crime are considered initial numbers, and multiple counts are possible if offences fall into more than one category.
The president of the Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA), Holger Münch, explained: "Politically motivated crime has almost doubled in 10 years and continues to increase."
There are tendencies towards radicalization in parts of the population, including attempts to delegitimize the state and its monopoly on the use of force, he said.
"We must take this development very seriously, as it threatens our democracy and social peace," the BKA president said.