Cologne attacks were planned: minister

Germany's justice minister isn't ruling out a connection between the Cologne attacks and those on women in other German cities on NYE.

A man from Syria carries a sign that reads 'Islam against sexism' in front of the central railway station in Cologne, Germany, 10 January 2016. (EPA/MAJA HITIJ)

A man from Syria carries a sign that reads 'Islam against sexism' in front of the central railway station in Cologne, Germany, 10 January 2016. (EPA/MAJA HITIJ) Source: AAP

The number of cases reported to Cologne police following a night of mass sex assaults and thefts continues to rise sharply, with the latest official figures jumping to 516 complaints from a previous 379.

Around 40 per cent of the complaints involve allegations of sexual assault, according to a statement from German police.

It said that a 19-year-old Moroccan man had been arrested in connection with the New Year's Eve attacks, which saw around 1000 intoxicated men congregate in front of the western Germany city's main train station.

The police are also looking into charges filed against 19 named suspects.

Most of the perpetrators are reported to have been of North African or Arab appearance, sparking international debate over Germany's decision to allow over one million migrants into the country last year, with many concerned that some men among the arrivals may not adhere to Western values.

Justice Minister Heiko Maas believes the attacks were organised, according to comments in Sunday's edition of the Bild newspaper.

"When such a horde meets to commit crimes, it seems to have been planned in some way. Nobody can tell me that it wasn't coordinated or pre-prepared," Maas said.

Maas was also not prepared to rule out a connection between the Cologne attacks and those on women elsewhere in Germany.

The wave of crimes in Cologne were mirrored in Hamburg on New Year's Eve, where 108 complaints were filed, and to a much lesser extent in other cities.

Maas has warned people not to draw conclusions about law-abiding migrants.

"To infer from someone's background that he is more likely to commit a crime or not I find to be risky," he said.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel has responded to the tense debate by promising tougher action against criminals of foreign nationality, including measures to revoke the right to claim asylum from people who break the law.


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Source: AAP



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