German far-right supporters demonstrate at Cologne's train station on Jan 9. Chanting "Merkel out" and waving German flags, supporters of the xenophobic PEGIDA movement vented their anger against migrants after a series of sexual assaults in the city.
COLOGNE (Germany) — German Chancellor Angela Merkel yesterday (Jan 9) backed stricter laws to expel convicted refugees, as Cologne police recorded 379 cases of New Year violence with asylum seekers and illegal migrants making up the majority of suspects.
Police used tear gas and water cannon to clear the rally of far-right supporters after protesters flung firecrackers and bottles at officers they say failed to prevent the New Year’s Eve attacks on women.
“If the law does not suffice, then the law must be changed,” she said, pledging action to protect not just German citizens, but innocent refugees too.
Witnesses described terrifying scenes of hundreds of women running a gauntlet of groping hands, lewd insults and robberies in the mob violence.
Of the cases reported so far, 40 per cent related to sexual violence, Cologne police said in a statement.
“Those in focus of criminal police investigations are mostly people from north African countries. The majority of them are asylum seekers and people who are in Germany illegally,” police added, confirming witness accounts.
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