Germany is grappling with a persistently high number of antisemitic crimes, according to recently released data. The Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA) registered 1,047 antisemitic offenses in the first quarter of 2025 alone, including 27 acts of violence and 422 instances of incitement to hatred. This figure, revealed in a response to a parliamentary inquiry by the Left party and reported by “Welt” highlights an ongoing challenge for the nation.
The majority of these offenses are attributed to right-wing extremist motivations, encompassing 11 acts of violence and 554 other crimes. A further 267 offenses and six acts of violence were committed by individuals with foreign ideological influences, while 145 offenses and five acts of violence were linked to religious ideologies. A small number, 15 offenses, stemmed from left-wing motivations. A further 66 offenses, including five acts of violence, remain uncategorized. The data, current to June 30, 2025, reflects a broad spectrum of crimes, ranging from vandalism and threats to insults and several cases of assault, including attempted murder in Berlin and Coburg. There were also multiple incidents involving the display of symbols associated with unconstitutional organizations, such as swastikas and Hamas insignia.
Throughout 2024, the BKA recorded a total of 6,560 antisemitic crimes, including 178 acts of violence, 1,438 propaganda offenses and 3,128 instances of incitement. It’s noted that these BKA figures are preliminary and typically increase substantially as further cases are reported. Comparisons reveal a significant rise in reported incidents, with the Ministry of Interior listing 793 offenses as of June 2024, compared to 1,759 by the end of that same month.
Josef Schuster, President of the Central Council of Jews, described the continued high rates of antisemitism as “alarming” emphasizing the tangible impact on Jewish communities and the widespread nature of hostility and hatred. Schuster specifically pointed to a “dramatic intensification” of antisemitism in Germany since October 7, 2023. He attributed the rise to both right-wing extremism – which he noted has become increasingly integrated into mainstream politics – and an increase in antisemitism linked to Islamist ideologies.
Schuster called for decisive action against antisemitism, stating that it should not become normalized. He criticized what he perceives as superficial responses and emphasized the need for a robust state commitment to combating antisemitic crimes in all forms.
The Left party echoed these concerns, arguing that current measures are insufficient. They advocated for reliably funded educational initiatives and support services for victims of antisemitic harassment and violence. They also cautioned against equating legitimate protests related to the conflict in Gaza with antisemitism and criticized the tendency to portray antisemitism as an imported problem addressed through stricter deportation policies, which they deemed a trivialization of the historical roots of antisemitism in Europe.
