BERLIN 

Neo-Nazis and far-right extremists committed 23,493 crimes in Germany last year, the government said on Tuesday.

German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser presented the government’s report on politically motivated crimes at a news conference in Berlin.

“I am particularly concerned that there has been a sharp increase in attacks against refugees,” Faeser said, pointing out that such attacks increased by 9% last year.

“It is extremely inhumane to attack people who have fled from war and terror, and found protection in our country. Right-wing extremism continues to pose a particularly high risk,” she said.

According to the report, neo-Nazis and right-wing extremists carried out 1,170 violent attacks last year targeting migrants, refugees, or political opponents. At least 675 people were injured in those attacks.

German police also recorded 5,372 xenophobic incidents, 2,641 anti-Semitic, and 610 Islamophobic hate crimes.

Some 62 mosques were attacked between January and December last year, and at least 39 people were injured because of anti-Muslim violence, according to official figures.

Germany has witnessed growing racism in recent years, fueled by the propaganda of far-right groups and parties, which have exploited the refugee crisis and attempted to stoke fear of immigrants.