BERLIN - Migrants and their homes in Germany faced more than 3,500 attacks in 2016, a number that is "alarmingly high and cause for concern," a German official said on Monday, while adding that the crimes are being aggressively prosecuted and the numbers of such attacks are now falling.
Most of the attacks were crimes such as vandalism to asylum-seeker homes including far-right graffiti, threats and slander but the report also included more serious attacks like arson, bodily harm and attempted murder. It was compiled by the Interior Ministry with information from Germany's 16 states in response to a question in Parliament by the Left party.
"There was a very wide spectrum of crimes, ... every one is to be condemned," said Johannes Dimroth, Interior Ministry spokesman.
The attacks led to 560 people being injured, including 43 children. Overall, 2,343 suspects were identified and investigated, according to the new report.
Comparison figures for previous years haven't been compiled but Dimroth said after 2016 the "trend is downward ... which gives us a little bit of hope".
Germany took in about 890,000 asylum seekers in 2015, and the influx caused a backlash and a rise in anti-immigrant sentiment, which was most pronounced in eastern parts of the country.
Dimroth said, in addition to government policies and police enforcement, it's up to society in general to fight racism, saying it's impossible to just "ban" extremism.
Associated Press
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