French Interior Ministry reports sharp increase in hate crimes since October 2023

The statistical service of the French Ministry of Internal Affairs has released a report revealing that in 2023, there were 8,500 recorded crimes and incidents motivated by national, racial, and religious hatred across the country.

Statisticians have noted a significant uptick in incidents, particularly starting in October. During the last three months of the year, crime statistics doubled compared to the same period in 2022.

Although the report does not pinpoint a specific reason, the surge coincided with the outbreak of war in the Gaza Strip.

In January, the Representative Council of Jewish Institutions in France reported a quadrupling of antisemitic incidents in 2023 compared to the previous year, reaching 1,676 cases. This spike notably occurred in October following the Hamas attack on Israel.

Official French statisticians refrain from explicitly mentioning "Jews," instead noting that victims are more likely to be men aged 25-54 and individuals from North Africa.

However, only 4% of victims report these incidents to the police, as per France 24's reports.