The number of antisemitic crimes in Germany remains persistently high. According to data from the Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA), a total of 1,047 antisemitic offenses were registered in the first quarter of 2025 alone, including 27 violent acts and 422 instances of incitement to hatred. This information was revealed in a response from the Federal Government to a query from the Left parliamentary group, as reported by “Welt.
The majority of these offenses were attributed to right-wing motivations, encompassing 11 violent acts and 554 other crimes. A further 267 offenses and six violent acts were committed by individuals with foreign ideologies, while 145 crimes and five violent acts stemmed from religious ideologies. Fifteen offenses were linked to left-wing motivations and 66 offenses and five violent acts were categorized as “other”. The data, as of June 30, 2025, compiled by the Federal Ministry of the Interior, encompasses a range of offenses, including property damage, threats, insults and acts of assault, some escalating to attempted murder in Berlin and Coburg. There were also several cases involving the display of symbols associated with unconstitutional organizations such as the swastika and symbols linked to Hamas.
In 2024, the BKA recorded a total of 6,560 antisemitic crimes, comprising 178 violent acts, 1,438 propaganda offenses and 3,128 instances of incitement to hatred. The BKA’s figures are preliminary and typically increase significantly through subsequent reporting. Records in May 2024 showed 793 offenses, rising to 1,759 by June 30th of the same year. The Left parliamentary group has been requesting quarterly data since 2008.
Josef Schuster, President of the Central Council of Jews, described the continued high number of antisemitic crimes as “alarming” and emphasized the palpable increase in hostility and hatred experienced by Jewish communities. He noted a “dramatic escalation” of antisemitism in Germany since October 7, 2023. Schuster attributed the rise to both right-wing extremist groups – which he stated are increasingly integrated into mainstream society – and Islamist-motivated antisemitism. He warned against normalization and called for decisive action against antisemitism.
The Left party emphasized the urgent need for measures to combat antisemitism, stating that “every antisemitic crime is one too many” and criticizing the limited effectiveness of existing efforts. They advocated for sustainably funded educational initiatives and support services for victims of antisemitic harassment and violence, highlighting the increasing pressure on civil society organizations that provide these services.
The Left also criticized the handling of pro-Palestinian protests, arguing that labeling legitimate demonstrations against Israeli military actions in Gaza as antisemitic or criminalizing them is counterproductive. They also rejected the narrative that antisemitism is an imported problem requiring stricter deportation policies, asserting that it diminishes the historical context of European antisemitism, particularly the legacy of the Nazis.