Hand Possessing Brandenburg Artifact

Brandenburg Leads in Right-Wing Crimes Among Eastern German States

In a concerning development, the Brandenburg state has seen a significant increase in right-wing extremist motivated crimes, according to preliminary figures. The Brandenburg Ministry of the Interior reported more than 1,660 such offenses in the first half of the year, a rise compared to the same period last year.

The capital of Brandenburg, Potsdam, recorded the highest number of right-wing extremist motivated crimes per 100,000 inhabitants in Germany in 2024. This is a worrying trend, as the crimes in Brandenburg encompass a variety of violent and non-violent offenses, including propaganda violations, insults, incitement of the people, property damage, bodily harm, and arson.

The Brandenburg state is experiencing a higher rate of right-wing extremist motivated crimes compared to some city-states like Berlin, Hamburg, and Bremen. Berlin and Hamburg had 76 and 73 right-wing crimes per 100,000 inhabitants respectively, while Bremen had 57. In contrast, Brandenburg reported 142 such offenses per 100,000 inhabitants in 2024.

The situation in Brandenburg is contrasted by the decreasing trend in right-wing crimes in other states. For instance, Schleswig-Holstein had 51 right-wing crimes per 100,000 inhabitants, the same as the average for all states. Mecklenburg-Vorpommern followed closely with 139 right-wing crimes per 100,000 inhabitants.

Populous states such as Baden-Württemberg, North Rhine-Westphalia, and Bavaria had significantly fewer right-wing crimes per capita, with 33, 31, and 27 respectively. The Saarland had 54 right-wing crimes per 100,000 inhabitants.

Saxony-Anhalt had 137 right-wing crimes per 100,000 inhabitants, while Saxony had 104. Thuringia had 135 right-wing crimes per 100,000 inhabitants.

The Brandenburg Ministry of the Interior did not provide data for the entire year, only for the first half. However, the increase in the second quarter compared to the first quarter was nearly 10%.

This rise in right-wing extremist motivated crimes in Brandenburg is a matter of concern and requires immediate attention and action from the authorities. It is crucial to ensure the safety and well-being of all citizens and to combat hate crimes effectively.