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During the 31 December 2015 [[New Year's Eve]] celebrations, widespread sexual assaults, theft, and at least two instances of rape—all targeted at women—were reported across [[Germany]], primarily within [[Cologne]].<ref name="Charlton Mailonline 2016">{{cite web | last=Charlton | first=Corey | last2=Mailonline | first2=Imogen Calderwood For | title=Teenage victims of Cologne sex mob describe harrowing ordeal | website=Mail Online | date=2016-01-06 | url=http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3386673/Women-Cologne-lockdown-council-admits-no-longer-safe-wake-African-Arab-mob-s-rapes-declares-upcoming-carnival-no-area-females.html | accessdate=2016-01-08}}</ref> Other cities with known incidents include [[Berlin]], [[Bielefeld]], [[Düsseldorf]], [[Frankfurt]], [[Hamburg]] and [[Stuttgart]].<ref name=BBCnewsreport/> In addition, similar assaults in [[Austria]], [[Finland]], [[Sweden]] and [[Switzerland]] were reported.<ref name=OtherCountries1>{{cite web|title=New Year’s Eve sex assaults also reported in Finland, Sweden and Austria|url=http://www.news.com.au/world/europe/new-years-eve-sex-assaults-also-reported-in-finland-sweden-and-austria/news-story/ce603ac27e5ebb4479874096fe299b97|website=news.com.au|publisher=News Corp Australia Network|accessdate=8 January 2016}}</ref>
During the 31 December 2015 [[New Year's Eve]] celebrations, widespread sexual assaults, theft, and at least two instances of rape—all targeted at women—were reported across [[Germany]], primarily within [[Cologne]].<ref name="Charlton Mailonline 2016">{{cite web | last=Charlton | first=Corey | last2=Mailonline | first2=Imogen Calderwood For | title=Teenage victims of Cologne sex mob describe harrowing ordeal | website=Mail Online | date=2016-01-06 | url=http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3386673/Women-Cologne-lockdown-council-admits-no-longer-safe-wake-African-Arab-mob-s-rapes-declares-upcoming-carnival-no-area-females.html | accessdate=2016-01-08}}</ref> Other cities with known incidents include [[Berlin]], [[Bielefeld]], [[Düsseldorf]], [[Frankfurt]], [[Hamburg]] and [[Stuttgart]].<ref name=BBCnewsreport/> In addition, similar assaults in [[Austria]], [[Finland]], [[Sweden]] and [[Switzerland]] were reported.<ref name=OtherCountries1>{{cite web|title=New Year’s Eve sex assaults also reported in Finland, Sweden and Austria|url=http://www.news.com.au/world/europe/new-years-eve-sex-assaults-also-reported-in-finland-sweden-and-austria/news-story/ce603ac27e5ebb4479874096fe299b97|website=news.com.au|publisher=News Corp Australia Network|accessdate=8 January 2016}}</ref>


Former Cologne police chief [[Wolfgang Albers (police president)|Wolfgang Albers]], who was suspended on January 8 because of allegations of misinformations in the days after the event, told the [[BBC]] that the sex perpetrators were of "Arab or North African descent" and called the incident "a completely new dimension of crime". It was later revealed by police that 18 of the 31 suspects checked by the [[Federal Police (Germany)|Federal Police]] on New Year's Eve were asylum seekers.<ref name="welt.de"/> They were suspected of mayhem, robbery and "insult on a sexual base", as sexual assaults could not been linked to them so far.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.zeit.de/gesellschaft/2016-01/koeln-verdaechtige-asylbewerber-bundespolizei-silvester|title=Übergriffe in Silvesternacht: Asylbewerber unter Verdächtigen von Köln|author=ZEIT ONLINE GmbH, Hamburg, Germany|date=8 January 2016|work=ZEIT ONLINE}}</ref><ref name="welt2"/> There are further 21 suspects identified by the Cologne police, which were not taken into custody so far.<ref name="welt2">[http://www.welt.de/politik/deutschland/article150765894/Verdaechtige-Maenner-hatten-Sex-Spickzettel-dabei.html Verdächtige Männer hatten Sex-Spickzettel dabei], [[Die Welt]], in German.</ref> More than a week after the attacks, Cologne Police announced two arrests.<ref name="reuters.com">{{cite web|publisher=Reuters|date=8 January 2016|accessdate=8 January 2016|title=German police arrest two suspects after violence in Cologne|url=http://www.reuters.com/article/us-germany-assaults-idUSKBN0UM0U420160108}}</ref> At the same time, Albers was placed on "interim" retirement.<ref name="BBC.com">{{cite web|publisher=BBC|date=8 January 2016|accessdate=8 January 2016|title=Cologne police chief removed after New Year Eve attacks|url=hhttp://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-35261359}}</ref>
Former Cologne police chief [[Wolfgang Albers (police president)|Wolfgang Albers]], who was suspended on January 8 because of allegations of misinformation in the days after the event, told the [[BBC]] that the sexual assault perpetrators were of "Arab or North African descent" and called the incident "a completely new dimension of crime". It was later revealed by police that 18 of the 31 suspects checked by the [[Federal Police (Germany)|Federal Police]] on New Year's Eve were asylum seekers.<ref name="welt.de"/> They were suspected of mayhem, robbery and "insult on a sexual base", as sexual assaults have still not been conclusively linked to them.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.zeit.de/gesellschaft/2016-01/koeln-verdaechtige-asylbewerber-bundespolizei-silvester|title=Übergriffe in Silvesternacht: Asylbewerber unter Verdächtigen von Köln|author=ZEIT ONLINE GmbH, Hamburg, Germany|date=8 January 2016|work=ZEIT ONLINE}}</ref><ref name="welt2"/> There are further 21 suspects identified by the Cologne police, which were not taken into custody so far.<ref name="welt2">[http://www.welt.de/politik/deutschland/article150765894/Verdaechtige-Maenner-hatten-Sex-Spickzettel-dabei.html Verdächtige Männer hatten Sex-Spickzettel dabei], [[Die Welt]], in German.</ref> More than a week after the attacks, Cologne Police announced two arrests.<ref name="reuters.com">{{cite web|publisher=Reuters|date=8 January 2016|accessdate=8 January 2016|title=German police arrest two suspects after violence in Cologne|url=http://www.reuters.com/article/us-germany-assaults-idUSKBN0UM0U420160108}}</ref> At the same time, Albers was placed on "interim" retirement.<ref name="BBC.com">{{cite web|publisher=BBC|date=8 January 2016|accessdate=8 January 2016|title=Cologne police chief removed after New Year Eve attacks|url=hhttp://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-35261359}}</ref>


The attacks were strongly condemned by Cologne Mayor [[Henriette Reker]].<ref name=BBCnewsreport>[http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-35231046 "Germany Shocked by Cologne New Year Gang Assaults on Women"] (5 January 2015). [[BBC News]]. Retrieved 7 January 2015.</ref> The police response and delayed media reaction were met with criticism from German citizens, with some placing blame on the [[European migrant crisis]].<ref name=BBCnewsreport/>
The attacks were strongly condemned by Cologne Mayor [[Henriette Reker]].<ref name=BBCnewsreport>[http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-35231046 "Germany Shocked by Cologne New Year Gang Assaults on Women"] (5 January 2015). [[BBC News]]. Retrieved 7 January 2015.</ref> The police response and delayed media reaction were met with criticism from German citizens, with some placing blame on the [[European migrant crisis]].<ref name=BBCnewsreport/>
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===Media===
===Media===
Several Media outlets only started reporting on the incidents on January 5, which was criticised by several politicians, including [[Hans-Peter Friedrich]].<ref>{{cite web|title = In den Sozialen Netzwerken sind die... - Hans-Peter Friedrich {{!}} Facebook|url = https://www.facebook.com/hanspeter.friedrich/posts/1243584958990041?pnref=story|website = www.facebook.com|accessdate = 2016-01-06}}</ref> The public television channel [[ZDF]] later acknowledged that they had failed to report on the incidents despite having sufficient knowledge to do so.<ref>{{Cite news|title = Übergriffe in Köln Eine Männergruppe und ihr Hintergrund|url = http://www.faz.net/aktuell/feuilleton/debatten/nach-silvester-in-koeln-muss-es-um-die-taeter-gehen-13999062.html|newspaper = Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung|date = 2016-01-05|access-date = 2016-01-06|issn = 0174-4909|language = Deutsch|first = Ursula|last = Scheer}}</ref> This has reinforced discontent previously held by the German public with news coverage relating to the [[European migrant crisis]] as well as a readiness to support the idea of the "Lügenpresse" (literally ''lying press'').<ref>{{Cite news|title = Allensbach-Studie Mehrheit fühlt sich über Flüchtlinge einseitig informiert|url = http://www.faz.net/aktuell/politik/fluechtlingskrise/allensbach-umfrage-zu-medienberichterstattung-in-fluechtlingskrise-13967959.html?printPagedArticle=true#pageIndex_2|newspaper = Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung|date = 2015-12-16|access-date = 2016-01-06|issn = 0174-4909|language = Deutsch|first = Renate|last = Köcher}}</ref>
Several media outlets only started reporting on the incidents on January 5, a move that was criticised by several politicians, including [[Hans-Peter Friedrich]].<ref>{{cite web|title = In den Sozialen Netzwerken sind die... - Hans-Peter Friedrich {{!}} Facebook|url = https://www.facebook.com/hanspeter.friedrich/posts/1243584958990041?pnref=story|website = www.facebook.com|accessdate = 2016-01-06}}</ref> The public television channel [[ZDF]] later acknowledged that they had failed to report on the incidents despite having sufficient knowledge to do so.<ref>{{Cite news|title = Übergriffe in Köln Eine Männergruppe und ihr Hintergrund|url = http://www.faz.net/aktuell/feuilleton/debatten/nach-silvester-in-koeln-muss-es-um-die-taeter-gehen-13999062.html|newspaper = Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung|date = 2016-01-05|access-date = 2016-01-06|issn = 0174-4909|language = Deutsch|first = Ursula|last = Scheer}}</ref> This has reinforced discontent previously held by the German public with news coverage relating to the [[European migrant crisis]] as well as a readiness to support the idea of the "Lügenpresse" (literally ''lying press'').<ref>{{Cite news|title = Allensbach-Studie Mehrheit fühlt sich über Flüchtlinge einseitig informiert|url = http://www.faz.net/aktuell/politik/fluechtlingskrise/allensbach-umfrage-zu-medienberichterstattung-in-fluechtlingskrise-13967959.html?printPagedArticle=true#pageIndex_2|newspaper = Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung|date = 2015-12-16|access-date = 2016-01-06|issn = 0174-4909|language = Deutsch|first = Renate|last = Köcher}}</ref>


===International reaction===
===International reaction===
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==Incidents in other countries==
==Incidents in other countries==
Similar attacks on New Year's Eve were reported outside of Germany by 7 January in [[Austria]], [[Finland]], [[Sweden]] and [[Switzerland]].<ref name=OtherCountries1/> In Finland, the National Bureau of Investigation denied initial suspicions that assaults similar to those in Cologne had been planned in Helsinki<ref>{{cite web | url = http://yle.fi/uutiset/krpn_tutkinnanjohtaja_suomessa_ei_suunniteltu_vastaavaa_kuin_kolnissa/8576981 | title = KRP:n tutkinnanjohtaja: Suomessa ei suunniteltu vastaavaa kuin Kölnissä | last = Kirsi | first = Katri | date = 2016-01-07 | publisher = YLE | access-date = 2016-01-08}}</ref>. The police department of Helsinki have received information of three cases of sexual harassment, of which two have lead to a report of an offence<ref>{{cite web | url = http://poliisi.fi/helsinki/prime101_fi.aspx/1/0/poliisi_varautui_uuden_vuoden_hairintaan_tehostetusti_-_kaikista_ahdisteluyrityksista_tulee_ilmoittaa_poliisille_43218 | title = Poliisi varautui uuden vuoden häirintään tehostetusti - kaikista ahdisteluyrityksistä tulee ilmoittaa poliisille | date = 2016-01-07 | publisher = Poliisi | access-date = 2016-01-07}}</ref>.
Similar attacks on New Year's Eve were reported outside of Germany by 7 January in [[Austria]], [[Finland]], [[Sweden]] and [[Switzerland]].<ref name=OtherCountries1/> In Finland, the National Bureau of Investigation denied initial suspicions that assaults similar to those in Cologne had been planned in Helsinki<ref>{{cite web | url = http://yle.fi/uutiset/krpn_tutkinnanjohtaja_suomessa_ei_suunniteltu_vastaavaa_kuin_kolnissa/8576981 | title = KRP:n tutkinnanjohtaja: Suomessa ei suunniteltu vastaavaa kuin Kölnissä | last = Kirsi | first = Katri | date = 2016-01-07 | publisher = YLE | access-date = 2016-01-08}}</ref>. The police department of Helsinki received information relating to three cases of sexual harassment, of which two have lead to a report of an offence.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://poliisi.fi/helsinki/prime101_fi.aspx/1/0/poliisi_varautui_uuden_vuoden_hairintaan_tehostetusti_-_kaikista_ahdisteluyrityksista_tulee_ilmoittaa_poliisille_43218 | title = Poliisi varautui uuden vuoden häirintään tehostetusti - kaikista ahdisteluyrityksistä tulee ilmoittaa poliisille | date = 2016-01-07 | publisher = Poliisi | access-date = 2016-01-07}}</ref>


==See also==
==See also==

Revision as of 19:15, 8 January 2016

New Year's Eve sexual assaults in Germany
Cities where incidents were reported
StandortDeutschland
Date31 December 2015 (2015-12-31)–1 January 2016 (2016-01-01) (CET)
TargetYoung German women returning home after New Year's celebrations [1]
Attack type
Sexual assault, rape and robbery
VictimsAt least 2 rapes and ~200 sexual assaults and robberies (Cologne)[2][3][4][5]
No. of participants
At least 31[6], Possibly 1000+ men of Arab and North African persuasion[7][8][9]

During the 31 December 2015 New Year's Eve celebrations, widespread sexual assaults, theft, and at least two instances of rape—all targeted at women—were reported across Germany, primarily within Cologne.[10] Other cities with known incidents include Berlin, Bielefeld, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt, Hamburg and Stuttgart.[11] In addition, similar assaults in Austria, Finland, Sweden and Switzerland were reported.[12]

Former Cologne police chief Wolfgang Albers, who was suspended on January 8 because of allegations of misinformation in the days after the event, told the BBC that the sexual assault perpetrators were of "Arab or North African descent" and called the incident "a completely new dimension of crime". It was later revealed by police that 18 of the 31 suspects checked by the Federal Police on New Year's Eve were asylum seekers.[6] They were suspected of mayhem, robbery and "insult on a sexual base", as sexual assaults have still not been conclusively linked to them.[13][14] There are further 21 suspects identified by the Cologne police, which were not taken into custody so far.[14] More than a week after the attacks, Cologne Police announced two arrests.[15] At the same time, Albers was placed on "interim" retirement.[16]

The attacks were strongly condemned by Cologne Mayor Henriette Reker.[11] The police response and delayed media reaction were met with criticism from German citizens, with some placing blame on the European migrant crisis.[11]

The assaults were unreported in the media for days, leading to accusations that the authorities and the media attempted to ignore or cover up the attacks to avoid criticism against the current asylum and migration policy of the government.[1][17][18]

Incidents

Cologne main square between the central railway station and the city's cathedral

According to former Cologne police chief Wolfgang Albers and the victims, the men were "of Arab or North African appearance" between ages 15 and 35, who could not speak German.[19][2][1][20] The perpetrators were reported to be up to 1,000 heavily intoxicated men of Arab or North African appearance;[7][8] however, later reports by Deutsche Presse-Agentur indicated this number to be representative of the total number of men present at the central railway station rather than the number of assailants.[21] The assaults appeared to be coordinated, the perpetrators having arrived in large groups. A group of around 500 had thrown firecrackers into the crowd assembled at the square, and exploited the confusion caused as a way to rob and sexually assault.[22] The men tightly surrounded women in groups of 30–40, according to witnesses, separating them from friends in the process.[23] According to the Cologne police report on 2 January, the suspects mostly utilized sexual assault to distract victims from robbery, namely valuable items such as mobile phones and wallets. They also indicated that the size of the groups was between 2 and 20 people.[24]

On January 7, several anonymous police officers from Cologne denied statements that the police did not know about the nationality of the perpetrators; they told the press that "most of them" would have been freshly immigrated asylum seekers. Contradicting statements from Cologne police leaders, these officers said that the identities of many people, including arrestees, had been thoroughly checked, so that police knew which groups of people were involved. Around 70 people had been checked, and several brought to police stations or taken into custody. The majority of those in detention were Syrians. Also, they denied information that the sexual harassments were only incidental, saying that the truth was "exactly the opposite": Most Arab perpetrators sought primarily to commit sexual offenses, or in their words "sexual amusement".[25][26][27][28] On January 8 it was reported that many stolen mobile phones were located by the police within or in the vicinity of refugees' residences.[29] The Federal Ministry of the Interior acknowledged on the same day, that two thirds of the suspects checked by the Federal Police - who are responsible for the railways and railway stations in Germany - in Cologne were asylum seekers. The federal police have been able to identify 31 suspects by name. Among them were 18 asylum seekers. In total among the suspects were nine Algerians, eight Moroccans, four Syrians, five Iranians, an Iraqi, a Serb, an American and two Germans.[6]

By 8 January, around 200 women including a police officer had made complaints to the police, including two rapes, with the events taking place in the main square between the station and Cologne Cathedral and within and outside the central railway station.[3][4][30][5][29] Similar events took place in Hamburg—specifically Reeperbahn, St. Pauli[19]—and Frankfurt, where 53 and 40 women, respectively, reported being sexually assaulted or robbed.[31][32][21] By January 7 the number of complaints to the police in Hamburg increased to 70.[33] Attacks were also reported in Bielefeld, Düsseldorf, Berlin, and Stuttgart.[19][34][3][23][35]

Police response

Cologne police Twitter post describing atmosphere as "playful" on New Year's morning

In Cologne, police dispatched 143 local officers and 70 federal officers to restore order. However, due to darkness and the number of people involved, police chief Wolfgang Albers conceded that their efforts were not effective.[22]

Cologne police came under criticism for their handling of the situation, as they initially described the New Year's Eve celebrations as "playful." One victim who was robbed and assaulted was told to report the incident elsewhere by the police.[2] Interior Minister Thomas de Maizière also criticized the the North Rhine-Westphalia police for describing the celebrations as "peaceful."[36] Police chief Wolfgang Albers rejected the criticism, calling the assaults "a completely new dimension of crime."[34] Düsseldorf police expressed concern that the attacks were linked to a known gang comprised of roughly 2,000 North African men.[21][37] On January 7th the police acknowledged an information blackout until the interior committee of the parliament of North Rhine-Westphalia discusses the events on Monday 11th. On the same day a report by a leading police officer in Cologne on New Years Eve was linked to several newspapers. It includes criticism that the number of police forces was too small to deal with the events.[5] According to the report the perpetrators acted "with a disrespect I didn't see in 29 years of service". Some shouted: "I am Syrian! You have to treat me friendly. Mrs Merkel has invited me!" Others tore their immigration papers while saying: "You can't do me anything. Tomorrow I will go and get new papers."[38] Because of the allegations of misinformation and the "loss of public trust" police chief Wolfgang Albers was "temporarily" suspended from office on January 8.[39]

Suspects and detainees

There were conflicting reports about the number of detainees. According to first reports by the BBC eight suspects, all asylum seekers, were detained in Cologne, though no official statement on their involvement was made.[19] Further reports said, that five men from ages 18 to 24 were arrested, though were later found to have committed unrelated crimes.[21] Reports on January 7 suggested that police officials detained more people, namely asylum seekers, on New Year's Eve than they admitted publicly.[25] According to a police report leaked to the media there were 71 people controlled, 11 were arrested, 4 were taken into custody on New Year's Eve.[27] As of January 7, the police of Cologne only officially confirmed that there are 16 suspects.[27]

On January 8, Cologne Police announced the arrest of two suspects in connection with the attacks. They were identified – in keeping with German privacy law – as Issam D., 16, of Morocco, and Mohamed T., 23, of Tunisia. Both were said to be asylum seekers. On their mobile phones the police said they found video footage of assaults on New Year's Eve. Also found was a piece of paper with Arabic-German translations of derogatory sexual terms.[40]

As of 8 January, police had identified 31 suspects among whom were 18 identified asylum seekers. Of the 31 suspects, 17 were said by the Interior Ministry to be Algerian or Moroccan. There were 2 Germans and one U.S. citizen among the suspects identified.[41]

Reactions

Local government

Cologne mayor Henriette Reker (l.) and police chief Wolfgang Albers (c.) in a press conference on 5 January 2016.

The Mayor of Cologne Henriette Reker came under heavy criticism, as her response appeared to blame the victims. She called for women to follow a "code of conduct," including staying at an "arm's length" from strangers.[42] By the evening of January 5, #einearmlänge ("an arm's length") became one of Germany's top-trending hashtags on Twitter.[36] Reker called a crisis meeting with the police in response to the incidents.[19][2] Reker called it "completely improper" to link the perpetrators to refugees.[34]

State interior minister of North Rhine-Westphalia Ralf Jäger said, "We will not accept that groups of North African men gather expressly for the purpose of debasing women by sexually assaulting them."[7] He said police had to "adjust" to the fact that groups of men had attacked women. He also spoke against anti-immigrant groups, saying: "What happens on the right-wing platforms and in chat rooms is at least as awful as the acts of those assaulting the women... This is poisoning the climate of our society."[43]

Members of the Pro NRW held a rally in front of the central railway station, criticizing Merkel's stance on immigration. A larger number of counter-protesters at the site were cited shouting phrases such as "down with the Nazi plague" at the Pro NRW members.[44]

Local population

On 5 January, around 200 to 300 women protested outside the Cologne Cathedral demanding respect for women and action from Chancellor Angela Merkel.[36][45] Many German people reacted with fear and concern. According to arms dealers and Amazon the sales of pepper spray, which already increased since the beginning of the European migrant crisis, saw another increase. The sales of one German manufacturer raised by 700 percent in the last year. Also "pepper spray" is among the most searched terms according to Google Trends, with figures further rising after the events in Cologne and elsewhere. Pepper spray is the only legal weapon for self-defense in Germany, though it is meant to only be sold for defense against animals.[46] In Düsseldorf, where 15 complaints to the police in connection with sexual assaults were made, a vigilante group was founded as a reaction to the events. The related Facebook page of the "Düsseldorf passt auf" ("Düsseldorf watches out") group has managed to get more than 3.300 members within 2 days. The Düsseldorf police denounced their activities and referred to the monopoly on legitimate use of force of the German state.[47]

Federal politics

Chancellor Angela Merkel and Justice Minister Heiko Maas condemned the assaults. Maas described the assaults as a "completely new dimension of organized criminality."[2] Merkel called Reker calling for a tough response.[48] She said everything must be done "to find the perpetrators as quickly and comprehensively as possible and punish them, regardless of their origin or background," and promised preventive measures for the carnival in February.[1][45][34] Sigmar Gabriel (SPD), vice chancellor and Minister for Economics, demanded quicker deportations of sentenced criminal migrants. There should be "zero tolerance for criminality and sexual assaults"[49]. Claudia Roth (Green Party) stated that the attacks could not be exculpated, but that they were "not the first eruptions of sexual violence in our society". She accused an "organised mob" on the Internet of "calling for a hunt on non-white people and taking revenge".[50]

Media

Several media outlets only started reporting on the incidents on January 5, a move that was criticised by several politicians, including Hans-Peter Friedrich.[51] The public television channel ZDF later acknowledged that they had failed to report on the incidents despite having sufficient knowledge to do so.[52] This has reinforced discontent previously held by the German public with news coverage relating to the European migrant crisis as well as a readiness to support the idea of the "Lügenpresse" (literally lying press).[53]

International reaction

There were reports of tourists cancelling trips to Cologne in the aftermath of the attacks, including one tour group calling off their entire summer schedule in the city.[54]

Poland's Foreign Minister Witold Waszczykowski sent an official letter to Frank-Walter Steinmeier, the German Minister of Foreign Affairs, asking if there were any Polish citizens hurt during the events. Waszczykowski criticized the German authorities for their handling of the situation and stated that it is likely that German government tried to conceal the events and ban people from telling others about these events. Waszczykowski stated that in his view the migration wave to Europe (which he linked to the events) was used by the Islamic State or other terrorist organizations.[55][56]

Incidents in other countries

Similar attacks on New Year's Eve were reported outside of Germany by 7 January in Austria, Finland, Sweden and Switzerland.[12] In Finland, the National Bureau of Investigation denied initial suspicions that assaults similar to those in Cologne had been planned in Helsinki[57]. The police department of Helsinki received information relating to three cases of sexual harassment, of which two have lead to a report of an offence.[58]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d "Reports of Attacks on Women in Germany Heighten Tension Over Migrants". Retrieved 5 January 2016.
  2. ^ a b c d e "A 'new dimension' of sexual assault in Cologne". Retrieved 5 January 2016.
  3. ^ a b c Mehr als 100 Anzeigen nach Übergriffen an Silvester - FAZ.net, Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, in German
  4. ^ a b Polizei stockt Ermittlungsgruppe deutlich auf - Tagesspiegel.de, Der Tagesspiegel, in German
  5. ^ a b c Interner Polizeibericht zu Kölner Silvesternacht: "Es waren einfach zu viele zur gleichen Zeit", Der Spiegel, in German
  6. ^ a b c "Polizei identifiziert nach Kölner Übergriffen weitere Verdächtige". Die Welt. 8 January 2016. Retrieved 8 January 2016.
  7. ^ a b c "String of New Year's Eve sexual assaults outrages Cologne". Deutsche Welle. 4 January 2016. Retrieved 4 January 2016.
  8. ^ a b "Cologne Police Chief Condemns Sex Assaults on New Year's Eve". The New York Times. Associated Press. 4 January 2016. Retrieved 4 January 2016.
  9. ^ "Asylbewerber unter Verdächtigen von Köln". Zeit Online. 8 January 2016. Retrieved 8 January 2016.
  10. ^ Charlton, Corey; Mailonline, Imogen Calderwood For (6 January 2016). "Teenage victims of Cologne sex mob describe harrowing ordeal". Mail Online. Retrieved 8 January 2016.
  11. ^ a b c "Germany Shocked by Cologne New Year Gang Assaults on Women" (5 January 2015). BBC News. Retrieved 7 January 2015.
  12. ^ a b "New Year's Eve sex assaults also reported in Finland, Sweden and Austria". news.com.au. News Corp Australia Network. Retrieved 8 January 2016.
  13. ^ ZEIT ONLINE GmbH, Hamburg, Germany (8 January 2016). "Übergriffe in Silvesternacht: Asylbewerber unter Verdächtigen von Köln". ZEIT ONLINE.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  14. ^ a b Verdächtige Männer hatten Sex-Spickzettel dabei, Die Welt, in German.
  15. ^ "German police arrest two suspects after violence in Cologne". Reuters. 8 January 2016. Retrieved 8 January 2016.
  16. ^ [hhttp://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-35261359 "Cologne police chief removed after New Year Eve attacks"]. BBC. 8 January 2016. Retrieved 8 January 2016.
  17. ^ "Reports of New Year's Eve sex assaults in Cologne fuel German migrant debate". Retrieved 5 January 2016.
  18. ^ "Cover-up claim over NYE mass sexual assaults". Retrieved 5 January 2016.
  19. ^ a b c d e "Germany shocked by Cologne New Year gang assaults on women". Retrieved 5 January 2016.
  20. ^ "German police search for 1,000 men after mass sexual assault in Cologne". Retrieved 5 January 2016.
  21. ^ a b c d "Police investigate organized crime ring's links to Cologne attacks". Deutsche Presse-Agentur. 6 January 2016. Retrieved 7 January 2016.
  22. ^ a b "Cover-up claim over NYE mass sexual assaults". The Local. 4 January 2016. Retrieved 4 January 2016.
  23. ^ a b Kate Connolly (6 January 2016). "Tensions rise in Germany over handling of mass sexual assaults in Cologne". The Guardian. Retrieved 7 January 2016.
  24. ^ "POL-K: 160102-1-K Übergriffe am Bahnhofsvorplatz - Ermittlungsgruppe gegründet". presseportal.de.
  25. ^ a b "Die meisten waren frisch eingereiste Asylbewerber", Die Welt, in German
  26. ^ "Vorrangig ging es den Tätern um Sexualstraftaten", Die Welt, in German
  27. ^ a b c Das verschwieg uns die Kölner Polizei, Bild, in German
  28. ^ Übergriffe an Silvester: Auch Flüchtlinge unter Verdächtigen in Köln, Der Spiegel, in German
  29. ^ a b Silvesternacht in Köln: Ermittler orten gestohlene Handys in Flüchtlingsheimen, Der Spiegel, in German
  30. ^ Als meine Freundin hinfiel, haben sich direkt vier Männer auf sie gestürzt - Focus.de, Focus, in German
  31. ^ Schon 53 Anzeigen in Hamburg nach Silvester-Übergriffen - Abendblatt.de, Hamburger Abendblatt, in German
  32. ^ "New Year sex attacks in Frankfurt, police say". The Local. 6 January 2016. Retrieved 6 January 2016.
  33. ^ Hamburgs Nacht der Schande und das lange Schweigen, Hamburger Abendblatt, in German
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  35. ^ "Sexuelle Übergriffe zu Silvester auch in Berlin - Berlin - Aktuelle Nachrichten - Berliner Morgenpost" (in Template:De icon). M.morgenpost.de. Retrieved 8 January 2016.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unrecognized language (link)
  36. ^ a b c "Twitter storm as Cologne mayor suggests women stay at 'arm's length' from strangers". Retrieved 5 January 2016.
  37. ^ "Germany sex assaults could be linked to criminal gang". Cologne, Germany: CBS News. Associated Press. 6 January 2016. Retrieved 6 January 2016.
  38. ^ Das Protokoll zur Kölner Chaos-Nacht zum Nachlesen, Die Welt, in German
  39. ^ Einsatz in der Silvesternacht: Kölns Polizeipräsident in einstweiligen Ruhestand versetzt, Der Spiegel, in German
  40. ^ "Übergriffe an Silvester: Kölner Polizei nimmt zwei Verdächtige fest". Der Spiegel. 8 January 2016. Retrieved 8 January 2016.
  41. ^ Troianovski, Anton (8 January 2016). "Germany Says Asylum Seekers Among Suspects in Cologne New Year's Eve Assaults". New York Times. Retrieved 8 January 2016.
  42. ^ "Mayor of Cologne says women should have code of conduct to prevent future assault". Retrieved 5 January 2016.
  43. ^ "Cologne sex attacks 'require police rethink' - BBC News". Bbc.com. 1 January 1970. Retrieved 8 January 2016.
  44. ^ Frank Jordans (6 January 2016). "Cologne divided over who's to blame for sexual assaults". The Salt Lake Tribune. Associated Press. Retrieved 7 January 2016.
  45. ^ a b "Cologne sex attacks: Women protest against assaults by gangs". Retrieved 5 January 2016.
  46. ^ Deutsche decken sich massenhaft mit Pfefferspray ein, Die Welt, in German
  47. ^ Die selbsternannten Aufpasser von Düsseldorf, Frankfurter Allgemeine, in German
  48. ^ "Germans shaken by New Year attacks on women in Cologne". Retrieved 5 January 2016.
  49. ^ SPIEGEL ONLINE, Hamburg, Germany (8 January 2016). "Köln: Sigmar Gabriel fordert schnellere Abschiebungen". SPIEGEL ONLINE.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  50. ^ "Mob ruft zur Jagd auf nicht weiße Menschen auf", Die Welt, in German
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  52. ^ Scheer, Ursula (5 January 2016). "Übergriffe in Köln Eine Männergruppe und ihr Hintergrund". Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (in Deutsch). ISSN 0174-4909. Retrieved 6 January 2016.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: unrecognized language (link)
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  54. ^ Ross, Eleanor (7 January 2016). "Tourists cancel trips to Cologne fearing 'life and limb' after claims of 1,000 men attacking 100 women on New Year's Eve". The Independent. Retrieved 7 January 2016.
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  58. ^ "Poliisi varautui uuden vuoden häirintään tehostetusti - kaikista ahdisteluyrityksistä tulee ilmoittaa poliisille". Poliisi. 7 January 2016. Retrieved 7 January 2016.
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