"I cannot advise Jews to wear the kippah everywhere all the time in Germany," the official said Saturday, employing another word for yarmulke.

The statement from Felix Klein, the government's commissioner on anti-Semitism, came as attacks against Jewish people in Germany rose from 1,504 in 2017 to 1,646 in 2018, or 10 percent, according to German broadcaster Deutsche Welle. The number of violent incidents increased from 37 to 62 during that time.

Klein, whose post was created last year, blamed "the lifting of inhibitions and the uncouthness which is on the rise in society" for the disturbing trend.