Just ahead of crucial elections in three far-right-led eastern German states, new evidence from police records is raising concerns about a rise in violence against refugees and asylum seekers in Germany.

According to the German government’s response to a question from the Left parliamentary group (Die Linke) in parliament, in the first half of 2024, 519 attacks against refugees and asylum seekers have been recorded mainly outside reception centers or other refugee accommodation.

The crimes reported by the German police against refugees and asylum seekers mainly involve bodily harm, violence in any form and incitement to hatred. Of the 519 cases recorded, 456 concern attacks with a far-right background. Among them are 46 injured victims of far-right attacks, of which six are children.

A negative first place last year for Saxony and Thuringia

However, the picture in Saxony and Thuringia, which elect local parliaments on September 1st, is particularly troubling. In 2023, the highest number of incidents of violence against refugees and immigrants on German soil were recorded there. This was followed by Bavaria, Lower Saxony and Brandenburg, which also holds state elections on 22 September.

Speaking to Osnabrücker Zeitung, which first published the figures, left-wing MP Clara Bünger said it had long been known that there was a link between racist rhetoric by politicians and the instigation of racist attacks on German streets.

She herself seems to hold the Alternative for Germany and her parliamentary speech largely responsible when, within the federal parliament, she raises the issue of “compulsory repatriation” of immigrants or considers refugees “to blame for all possible social problems”.