BERLIN — Germany has logged a significant rise in crimes targeting journalists and media outlets, according to federal police figures released this week, raising concerns about press freedom and media safety in the country.
According to DW News, New data from the Interior Ministry show that between April 1, 2024, and November 30, 2025, a total of 818 criminal offences aimed at journalists or media organisations were registered with the Bundeskriminalamt (BKA), Germany’s federal investigative police force. That equates to roughly 41 cases per month over the 20-month period — a rise of about 71 percent compared with 2023 figures, when police recorded 290 such offences.
While most of the incidents involved threats or abuse, more than 10 percent — 89 cases — were classified as violent, including assaults and attacks that caused injury.
A number of these physical offences occurred during public demonstrations, with police recording 211 cases in protest settings, and 73 of the violent crimes taking place amid rallies and marches.
The figures also show a geographically uneven pattern. Berlin alone accounted for nearly half of the reported cases, with 406 crimes taking place in the capital, highlighting the challenges journalists face in Germany’s politically charged urban centre. Other states, including Saxony, Bavaria and North Rhine-Westphalia, also logged notable numbers of media-related offences.
Authorities attributed some incidents to politically motivated motives, with about 30 percent linked to right-wing ideology and a smaller share connected to left-wing and other ideological drivers.
A significant portion of offences could not be easily categorised, underscoring the complexity of threats facing journalists.
David Schliesing, spokesman on media policy for the opposition Left Party in the Bundestag, described the figures as “shockingly high” and urged federal and state governments to do more to ensure journalists’ safety and protect press freedom.
Press freedom advocates have warned that increased hostility and threats — both online and in the physical world — can undermine democratic discourse and discourage independent reporting.
The recent statistics, they say, reflect broader social and political tensions that have sometimes manifested in antagonism toward media workers.
Germany’s Interior Ministry has not yet commented on specific measures to address the rise in these crimes. However, the data have renewed calls from lawmakers and civil society groups for more robust protections for journalists and stronger enforcement against those who target them.
