Germany's top security official says new statistics show a sharp rise in anti-Semitic offenses last year, as well as in crimes against foreigners.
Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere told reporters Wednesday that anti-Semitic offenses rose 25.2% last year to 1,596 after declining in 2013. Crimes against foreigners were up 21.5% 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.
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Rabbis practice self-defense in Prague. Attacks against Jews jumped to 37 in 2014 from nine in 2013 (Archive photo: AP)
(צילום: AP)
Earlier last week, a new report by Prague's Jewish community registered a significant increase of cases of harassment and threats against Jews last year.
The annual report on anti-Semitism released Monday said such attacks – including anti-Semitic letters and emails, verbal attacks and harassment in front of Jewish objects – jumped to 37 in 2014 from nine in 2013.
The report said attacks against Jews on the Internet rose to 191 cases compared to 156 the previous year.
The report added that anti-Semitism in the Czech Republic remains at a relatively low level with one physical attack registered last year and five attacks on Jewish property. The biggest threat is posed by potential terrorist attacks by radicalized individuals.