Attacks on Journalists in Germany Double in 2024, Highlighting Press Freedom Concerns

Reporter ohne Grenzen reports 89 violent incidents against journalists, with a majority occurring during politically charged demonstrations.

Germany documented 89 physical attacks on journalists in 2024, more than doubling the 41 incidents reported in 2023.
Most attacks took place during demonstrations, particularly related to the Middle East conflict, with Berlin as the epicenter, accounting for 49 cases.
Of the recorded incidents, 75 involved direct physical assaults, including beatings, use of objects like flagpoles, and pepper spray attacks.
Reporter ohne Grenzen highlights significant underreporting, citing challenges such as lack of witnesses and unreported incidents by local journalists.
The rise in violence reflects a growing hostility towards the press and a narrowing tolerance for diverse media perspectives, especially on contentious issues like the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.