Germany’s top security official says new statistics show a sharp rise in
antisemitic offenses last year, as well as in crimes against foreigners.
Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere told reporters Wednesday that antisemitic
offenses rose 25.2 percent last year to 1,596 after declining in 2013. Crimes
against foreigners were up 21.5 percent to 3,945.
De Maiziere says the rise is partially due to new reporting methods that
more closely track the motivation of perpetrators, but said nonetheless
“this development is worrying and must be stopped.”
He says there is no political solution alone, but the “whole of
society is needed.”
Overall, police registered more than 6 million crimes in 2014, up
slightly from 2013.
