Over 600 attacks on refugees in Germany this year

BERLIN (AA) - German police recorded 609 attacks on refugees and shelters in the first half of 2019, the country's Interior Ministry said.

These attacks included verbal abuse, physical violence and arson attacks, the ministry said in response to a parliamentary question.

Some 60 attacks targeted refugee centers and 42 others relief organizations across the country.

At least 102 individuals were injured in these attacks.

Germany has accepted nearly 1.4 million refugees since 2015, mostly from Syria and Iraq.

The country has witnessed growing xenophobia and anti-refugee hatred, triggered by far-right propaganda which have exploited fears tied to the refugee crisis and terrorism.