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Berlin Car Arson Remains High in 2025 With About 720 Vehicles Affected

Police cite a slight decline alongside persistently low clearance rates, with no suspects in politically motivated attacks.

Overview

  • Official figures list 407 vehicles directly set on fire for non-political reasons in 2025, plus 231 nearby cars damaged by heat.
  • Twelve incidents were classified as left‑wing politically motivated, with 35 vehicles directly burned and 48 more destroyed as a consequence.
  • Investigators identified 52 suspects in non-political cases but none in the politically motivated category, underscoring the low solve rate.
  • Police describe political motives as linked to antirepression, antifascism and antimilitarism, while non-political cases span vandalism, insurance fraud and personal disputes.
  • Risk was concentrated at roadside and company parking in districts such as Neukölln, Marzahn-Hellersdorf and Lichtenberg, where 2025 also saw high-profile fleet fires and two civilian police cars torched.