Berlin Sees Record High of Over 400 Car Arson Cases in 2024

Police investigations reveal most incidents stem from vandalism or personal motives, while politically motivated cases remain a minority.

In 2024, Berlin police initiated 422 investigations into car arson cases, the highest number in recent years, surpassing figures from 2021 and prior years.
Only 22 of these cases were identified as politically motivated, predominantly linked to left-wing extremists, while the majority were attributed to motives like vandalism, revenge, or insurance fraud.
High-profile arson incidents included attacks on vehicles parked near Berlin prisons, some belonging to justice officials.
The actual number of cars damaged or destroyed is higher, as single incidents often involved multiple vehicles, and additional cars were affected by heat from nearby fires.
Despite the surge, arrests remain rare, with suspects identified in only 56 non-political cases and two politically motivated cases in 2024.