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Nearly half of murder and manslaughter suspects in Bavaria were non-German in 2025, state data shows
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According to a response from the Bavarian state government to an inquiry by the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, nearly every second suspect in murder and manslaughter cases in Bavaria in 2025 was non-German. The data, obtained by Die Welt, shows that of 466 suspects, 220 (47.2%) held non-German citizenship, up from 42.6% in 2024. The total number of homicide cases rose 10.7% to 405, and suspects increased from 408 to 466. Among non-German suspects, Romanians (31) were the largest group, followed by Syrians (27), Turks (18), and Afghans (17). The state government did not provide an explanation for the increase, citing numerous possible factors such as demographics, socio-economic conditions, and migration, but noted no empirical studies on causes are available. The AfD's Jörg Baumann called for further investigation. The government also noted that overall crime in Bavaria fell 4.8% in 2025, and violent crime decreased 4.5%. Most victims had a personal relationship with the suspect.
Source report
Source: Felix Hörhager / dpa
More cases, more suspects, and a higher proportion of foreigners: Following an inquiry in the state parliament, the Bavarian state government has provided more detailed figures on homicide offenses. The AfD is calling for a more thorough investigation.
According to the Police Crime Statistics, the number of crimes in Bavaria is declining. However, a counter-trend is emerging in one area: Last year, both the number of cases and the number of suspects rose for murder and manslaughter, as indicated by a response from the Bavarian State Government to an AfD inquiry obtained by WELT.
- Police registered a total of 405 cases of murder and manslaughter in 2025, up from 366 cases the previous year — an increase of 10.7 percent.
- The number of suspects increased from 408 to 466.
The AfD had requested a detailed evaluation of intentional homicide offenses on August 14. While the Police Crime Statistics had already been published in March, the parliamentary group inquired about the nationalities and residence status of the suspects. This information is now available.
Suspects by Citizenship
Of the 466 suspects:
- 246 held German citizenship
- 220 held non-German citizenship
The proportion of non-German suspects rose from 42.6 percent to 47.2 percent. The number of non-German suspects increased within one year from 174 to 220.
The separately identified group of immigrant suspects comprised 88 persons, representing 18.9 percent of all suspects, compared to 18.4 percent the previous year.
Romanians and Syrians Largest Groups
Among the non-German suspects:
- Romanians: 31 persons (largest group)
- Syrians: 27 suspects
- Turks: 18 suspects
- Afghans: 17 suspects
No Explanation from State Government
The state government does not provide an explanation for the increase. In its response, it refers to numerous possible influencing factors such as demographic developments, socio-economic conditions, social and cultural aspects, migration, and urbanization. However, empirical studies on the causes of the increase are not available. Therefore, the state government refrains from speculation or hypotheses.
According to the Federal Statistical Office, approximately 2.4 million non-German people lived in Bavaria in 2025, corresponding to a share of nearly 18 percent of Bavaria's total population.
Victim Information
The state government's response also contains information regarding the victims. Most victims already had a personal relationship with the suspect prior to the offense:
- Of the 490 recorded victims, 166 fell into the category of family or partnership
- Another 166 fell into other personal relationships
No information was provided regarding the nationality of the victims.
Broader Crime Trends
At the same time, the state government emphasized that overall crime trends are moving in a different direction:
- The number of registered crimes fell by 4.8 percent in 2025
- Violent crime decreased by 4.5 percent
- Case numbers in the overarching offense category "Crimes against life," which includes offenses beyond murder and manslaughter, declined by a total of 2.4 percent last year
AfD Demands Investigation
AfD member of parliament Jörg Baumann nevertheless sees further need for clarification.
Source
Nachrichten - WELTWestern