Recent statistics provided by the German government indicate a declining safety situation at train stations in 2024, with reported incidents of violence and sexual offenses increasing significantly.

The findings were revealed in response to an inquiry from the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, according to a report obtained by various media outlets.

Data from the Federal Criminal Police (BKA) shows that the number of violent crimes reported at train stations rose from 25,640 in 2023 to 27,160 in 2024, representing a 5.93 percent increase.

The most alarming rise was in sexual offenses, which surged by 19.18 percent, increasing from 1,898 to 2,262 cases.

Additionally, the police reported increases in crimes involving weapons and property damage, with rises of 10.04 percent and 5.52 percent, respectively.

Interestingly, while the number of knife attacks on trains decreased by approximately 18 percent, incidents of knife-related violence at train stations rose by 20.54 percent, from 404 cases in 2023 to 487 in 2024. Conversely, drug-related offenses saw a notable drop, plummeting by 44.65 percent, likely due to changes in the legal status of cannabis, which is no longer classified as an illegal drug since April 2023.

The statistics revealed a concerning pattern regarding the nationality of suspects involved in crimes at train stations.

Non-German suspects were significantly overrepresented, accounting for 59.84 percent of property crimes, 58.76 percent of sexual offenses, and 46.82 percent of violent crimes.

This demographic contrasts sharply with the general population, where the foreign resident proportion in Germany stood at 15.2 percent in 2023.

Martin Hess, an AfD parliamentarian who initiated the inquiry, expressed that train stations are transforming into 'no-go areas.' He asserted that the data indicates a disproportionate involvement of foreign individuals in criminal activities, which he claims has not been sufficiently acknowledged by mainstream parties.

The AfD has called for a 'radical rethink' and strict measures against foreign criminals, advocating for the deportation of offenders without German citizenship.

In a response to the reported crime rates, Alexander Throm, interior policy spokesperson for the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), described the rise in crime as 'dramatic' and unacceptable for train users.

He attributed the exacerbation of violence to alleged failures in migration policy and demanded enhanced security measures, including expanded video surveillance and biometric identification systems.

Conversely, representatives from the leftist party, Die Linke, criticized the AfD for its focus on foreign nationality in crime statistics, accusing it of promoting racial motives rather than engaging in a serious discussion about crime prevention.

Clara Bünger, the party's legal policy spokesperson, emphasized that crime rates correlate more closely with socio-economic factors such as education, security, and poverty rather than nationality.

The Free Democratic Party (FDP), while not securing a place in the upcoming legislative term, characterized the crime increase as 'alarming,' calling for a necessary shift in asylum and migration policy.

Acknowledging the need for significant reforms, FDP member Muhanad Al-Halak stated that ensuring state security must be a priority.

Meanwhile, officials from the Social Democratic Party (SPD) and the Green party, as well as members of the BSW group in the Bundestag, did not respond to inquiries regarding these findings.