Anti-semitic crimes across Germany increase amid hostility to migrants

THE number of anti-semitic crimes in Germany rose by 2.5per cent last year despite an overall drop in politically motivated crimes, statistics showed yesterday, reinforcing fears about growing hostility after several highprofile attacks in Berlin. Horst Seehofer, the interior minister, said that 1,504 anti-semitic offences were reported in 2017, up from 1,468 in 2016, though he said there had been fewer attacks on hostels housing refugees.

“It is not surprising that the so-called ‘imported anti-semitic crimes’ are rising – even if at a lower level.

“But I want to make clear that almost 95 per cent of anti-semitic crimes in 2017 had a Right-wing motive,” said Mr Seehofer.

Some politicians, including many in the anti-immigrant Alternative for Germany (AFD), blame the influx of more than 1.6million refugees and other migrants, many fleeing war zones.

Mr Seehofer cited recent offences, including the bullying of Jewish children in school, an attack on an Israeli Arab who wore a Jewish kippa on a Berlin street and the awarding of a top music award to rappers accused of reciting anti-semitic lyrics.

Germany is not the only country confronting anti-semitism but the legacy of the Holocaust means Germans feel a special sense of responsibility. Politically motivated crimes overall fell by 4.6 per cent in 2017, the first decrease in four years, said Mr Seehofer.

Attacks on refugee accommodation fell by nearly 69 per cent. Overall, crime was down by 9.6 per cent, helped by a big fall in immigration-related offences such as illegal border crossings.