Nearly 10 attacks per day were made on migrants in Germany in 2016, a total of 560 people were injured in the violence, including 43 children. Three-quarters of the attacks targeted migrants outside of their accommodation, while almost 1,000 attacks were on housing.
Chancellor Angela Merkel's decision to open up Germany to foreigners fleeing conflict and persecution has polarised the country and increased hate crime. Germany is struggling with asylum applications and there are fears about security issues after a series of terrorist attacks across Europe.
The number of asylum seekers arriving in Germany in 2016 was 280,000, this is less than the 600,000 from the previous year, after the closure of the Balkan migrant route and a Europen Union deal with Turkey. The BBC reports the issue will feature heavily in parliamentary elections this September.
Statistics on violence
There have been high levels of violence in Germany, for example, there were 3,533 attacks on migrants and asylum hostels in 2016, and there were also 2.545 attacks on individual migrants. We have to add that 560 people were injured, including 43 children.
There were 988 attacks on housing, which is slightly fewer than in 2015. We can also mention that there were 217 attacks on refugee organisations and volunteers. Many Germans dislike the fact that refugees settle in the country.
Attacks on asylum shelters and migrants
In December 2015, 12 people were injured after fires broke out at two hostels in Wasserstein, Bavaria. In January 2016, a live grenade was thrown at hostel housing 170 people in the south-western town in Villingen-Schwenningen but the grenade failed to detonate.
In February 2016, fire in Bautzen destroyed the roof of a building planned to house migrants. Police say some onlookers celebrated the fire and tried to prevent firefighters from extinguishing the blaze.
In September 2016, residents clash with migrants in Bautzen. In February 2017, a politician from the far-right NPD was jailed for eight years for burning down a sports hall to be used to house migrants in Nauen, west of Berlin.
