These figures appear to reveal the shortcomings of former German Chancellor Angela Merkel's migration policy.

According to statistics from Germany’s Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA), over 1,000 women faced sexual assault or rape annually by illegal migrants between 2015 and 2022. The staggering numbers illuminate the shortcomings of former German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s immigration policy.

It is estimated that in 2022 alone, of the more than 10,000 suspects, 6,366 were German and 3,679 were foreign nationals. Of these, 1,115 were asylum-seeking migrants, meaning that although they accounted for only 2.5 per cent of the population, they were responsible for more than 11 per cent of sexual assaults and rapes.

This confirms some long-standing trends, including one highlighted by migration researcher Ruud Koopmans, who found that asylum-seeking migrants were five times more likely to be involved in sexual assault and rape than others.

Manuel Ostermann, vice-president of the German Federal Police Association, complained that migrants who commit sexual violence are often already known to the police and have been convicted of other crimes, but are still allowed to stay in the country because of lax deportation standards.

„People who commit crimes against sexual autonomy should have no right to stay in Germany. We are witnessing a collective loss of freedom in Germany, especially for women.”

– Mr Ostermann told the paper, adding that women often avoid public places and street parties because they fear violent migrants.

„The government should focus not on tolerance for foreign criminals, but rather on protecting our own citizens,”

– the Breitbart news portal quoted a statement from the right-wing Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, which has been breaking records in opinion polls thanks to its anti-migration rhetoric.