However, homeless individuals often live in precarious conditions, exposed to hunger, the elements, and hostility. In recent years, Germany has seen a rise in violent attacks against people without housing. The numbers have also increased in Munich.
In 2024, there were 2,194 criminal offenses committed against homeless individuals. This information comes from the German Federal Ministry of the Interior’s response to an inquiry by the Left Party, which was obtained by the Rheinische Post. In 2022, the figure was 1,986 cases, rising to 2,180 in 2023. This means there are currently about six attacks on homeless people per day in Germany.
Munich finds itself in the unenviable top three in these statistics. According to the data, there were 126 criminal offenses against homeless people in the Bavarian capital last year. Berlin ranked first with nearly 500 cases, followed by Hamburg (221). Across the entire state of Bavaria, 394 offenses were reported. Nearly 75% of the victims were men. The data is based on official police crime statistics. The suspects are also predominantly male.
Katharina Alborea of the Diakonie charity told dpa at the end of September 2025 that attacks of this nature are linked to the prevailing social climate. For instance, many people hold the opinion that homeless individuals are worthless. They are seen as weaker individuals upon whom one can vent their frustration or sense of injustice.
“This climate greatly contributes to people not seeing them as individuals who have a miserable life and who also wish for things other than living in a tent on a highway embankment,” said the former social worker, adding, “The mood in society must change. It must be clear that homeless people are not fair game. They are people like you and me.” Alborea also suspects a high number of unreported cases, suggesting that homeless individuals often do not see the police as a source of help and become accustomed to sometimes terrible things without reporting them. In a related case in Munich, two police officers were recently put on trial due to a violence scandal against homeless people.
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