NEW YORK, NY June 12, 2006 —Violent crimes increased last year around New York state and in the city of Buffalo. That's according to crime statistics released today by the FBI.

The report from Washington says murders jumped ten percent in Buffalo between 2004 and 2005, while arsons in upstate New York's largest city rose by more than 20 percent. Rapes declined 13 percent in 2005. Statewide, violent crime of all categories rose just over one percent last year. Outside of New York City, the number of homicides rose two and a half percent.

Buffalo's overall three-point-five percent rise in violent crime was included in federal statistics that single out large cities for detailed crime reporting. The FBI didn't release specific data for any other upstate city.