Germany's Federal Criminal Police Office released a new report saying that illegal immigration to the country had increased significantly in 2023.

According to the report, 266,224 people were suspected of entering the country illegally, a 33.4 per cent increase on 2022. 

The European Border and Coast Guard Agency also recorded 380,200 unauthorized crossings along the external border of the 29-country Schengen free-movement area.

This is the highest annual number since 2016.

The main countries of origin for people illegally crossing into Germany were Syria, Turkey and Afghanistan.