The number of Islamist-motivated crimes in Germany rose sharply in 2024, reaching over 1,500 cases, according to the Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA).
Out of 804 suspects last year, around 22% were under 18 years old, up from less than 8% a decade earlier.
In 2024, the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV) recorded 1,694 cases of ”politically motivated crime–religious ideology,” 1,397 of which were connected to Islamist motives.
Authorities estimate there are around 28,000 potential Islamists in Germany, of whom roughly 9,500 are considered violent.
The radicalization of minors is also an increasing concern in Germany. A case in Paderborn underscores the risks: a 13-year-old girl seriously injured a caregiver in a psychiatric clinic with a knife.
She had been monitored by security authorities for months and is believed to have been radicalized online. She had previously stated her intention to commit murder before turning 14, as she would not face legal consequences considering her age—according to Der Spiegel.
In June, Federal Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt warned of a growing propensity for violence among young extremists. Dobrindt added that security authorities are also seeing this trend among left-wing extremists and young Islamists.
