Berlin has seen a sharp rise in extremist violence in 2025, with left-wing groups responsible for a growing share of attacks. According to preliminary data from the Berlin Senate, left-wing violent crimes nearly doubled compared with 2024, rising from 123 to 220 incidents.
Overall, 872 politically motivated left-wing crimes were registered, marking an increase over the previous year. Authorities also reported a significant uptick in religiously motivated offenses, particularly Islamist crimes, which reached a record 508 cases. Police conducted 19 terrorism-related investigations in the field of religious ideology, covering attack planning, terrorist financing, and organizational activities.
Antisemitic crimes also reached a new high, with 2,112 incidents compared with 1,823 in 2024, the highest level recorded since at least 1995. Most of these offenses were attributed to foreign ideology, with 1,393 cases, followed by 307 Islamist-motivated, 292 far-right, and 30 driven by ‘other’ religious motivations. Bodily injuries from antisemitic violence numbered 24, including four terrorism-related cases.
The increase in left-wing extremism is reflected in a wave of arson attacks targeting vehicles across the city. Police report that 407 cars were deliberately set on fire in 2025, with 231 additional vehicles damaged by spreading flames. Investigators attribute most incidents to organized left-wing extremist groups, targeting public and private property, including company premises and government-related vehicles.
