BERLIN

The number of German young people who are suspected of committing far-right motivated crimes has doubled, media reports said Wednesday.

Since 2020, the number of young right-wing extremist suspects has risen steadily. In 2024, it was twice as high as in 2023, said the center-right government of Chancellor Friedrich Merz in response to a parliamentary inquiry from the opposition Green faction.

The increase is particularly significant in the 14- to 17-year-old age group. Last year, there were 3,854 suspects, compared to 1,785 in 2023. In both years, almost 90% of them were male. There was also a significant rise among those age 13 and under. One-quarter of the 204 suspects were girls.

According to the figures, "right-wing politically motivated crime" also climbed among those age 24 and under.

There are now "a large number of right-wing extremist youth groups and other organizations with links to minors and young people" that operate throughout Germany, some in networks and some independently of one another, said the government.

They exist in the vicinity of right-wing extremist parties such as the Alternative for Germany party (AfD), Heimat (formerly the NPD), and the Third Way, in nationalist-influenced right-wing extremism, and in "new violence-oriented youth groups."​​​​​​​

Germany has witnessed growing racism and Islamophobia in recent years fueled by far-right parties and movements, including the right-wing populist AfD, which have exploited fears about a refugee crisis.