Violence Targeting Refugees Reaches 'Tragic Proportions' in Germany

New figures reveal attacks on asylum seekers have doubled in Germany in the last year. More than 1,600 crimes have been counted so far, which includes attacks on refugees and their temporary homes.

The statistics were released by police following a question from Green Party MPs and suggests the main motive behind the attacks stems from far-right political factions.

"Far-right violence in Germany has reached new, tragic proportions," said Green Party leader Anton Hofreiter in response to the numbers.  

— J@ke (@KingJake56) December 14, 2015

Germany is on the right side of history in this crisis. Wish we were too. #refugeecrisis #refugeeswelcome https://t.co/9yJV75z5D9

— Dawn Connor (@DawnConnor) November 28, 2015​

​Tensions and violence towards refugees in Germany have risen in line with Chancellor Angela Merkel's open arms approach to asylum seekers. But Angela Merkel has since announced that Germany may be reaching its limits in accepting more refugees. 

"The challenge is immense. We want — and we will — reduce the number of refugees noticeably," said Merkel.

However, Merkel's change of rhetoric hasn't stemmed the growing levels of criminality targeting refugees and their accommodation. According to German newspaper Der Spiegel, more than a thousand people recently marched in silence through their small town, carrying placards and daubing "protect our homeland" on walls.

So-called "street-extremists" are growing in number and popularity in Germany. A report in Der Spiegel says that the German Interior Ministry had registered 817 "criminal acts on asylum hostels" by December 7.

"The 1 million refugees who have arrived in Germany in 2015 are now acting as a catalyst for this new right-wing movement.

"The fear of foreigners, of being "swamped" by them, is bonding the New Right together and drawing more 'concerned citizens' into their ranks every day," the article states.

"Compared to 2014, the number of attacks has at least quadrupled. Arson attacks have increased 11-fold… In October alone, officials registered 1,717 politically motivated infractions committed by the right wing… Since the summer, the increase in violence has been steep," Der Spiegel says.

Angela Merkel has been praised for her acceptance of almost a million refugees so far this year. However, after receiving the Person of the Year award by Time magazine. has admitted that "multiculturalism leads to parallel societies and therefore remains a lie."

And she appears to be right — increasing numbers of Germans continue on their path to segregation by reacting to the refugee crisis and taking to their towns' streets. 

The recent figures, revealed by the police at the request of the Green Party, "demonstrate a worrying trend", Hofreiter told German parliament and are a "disgrace for Germany", according to Germany's Interior Minister, Thomas de Maiziere.