Xenophobic violence in Germany increases rapidly

Xenophobic violence has been on the rise in Germany, as the annual report 2013 of the German Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution showed on Wednesday.

The number of right-wing extremists classified as ready for violence remained with approximately 9,600 constant in 2013 compared to the previous year, and the total number of left-wing extremists even decreased slightly from 29,400 in 2012 to 27,700 in 2013.

However, the number of violent attacks against foreigners rose by 20.4 percent to 473 on annual comparison, while the extreme left-wing acts were recorded an increase of 26.7 percent to 1110.

German Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere expressed concern about the declining inhibition threshold of extremist perpetrators at the launch of the report.

"We can not accept the increase of violence," he said, "We will take action against perpetrators of violence with the legitimate measures of the constitutional state."

The report also pointed out, while the right-wing extremists try to take advantage of reservations against asylum seekers and to radicalize protests against asylum centers, left-wing acts of violence are directed increasingly against police and security officers.