Far-right spreads false graph linking migrants to sex crimes in Germany
A misleading graph about sexual offences in Germany has spread widely on social media. Shared by far-right politicians and an Austrian disinformation outlet, it claims migrants are behind a rise in such crimes since 2015. The data, however, tells a different story.
The graph was promoted by Florian Machl, editor of the Austrian outlet Report24, along with AfD politicians Maximilian Krah and Maximilian Kneller. Local AfD representatives also shared it, suggesting a link between migration and increased sexual offences. Their claims gained traction in mid-October, shortly after Chancellor Friedrich Merz mentioned a 'problem' with migration in German cities.
The graph’s circulation has reignited debates about migration and crime in Germany. Official reports confirm that most suspects in sexual offences are German citizens, not migrants. The PKS data, while limited to reported cases, does not support the claim that migration is the primary driver of increased offences since 2015.
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