German officials warn about use of Cologne assaults against refugees

A German official has warned that anti-refugee groups are trying to use a string of sexual assaults and robberies in the city of Cologne, against refugees.

Ralf Jaeger, interior minister for the state of North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW), said on Wednesday that anti-refugee groups were trying to use the attacks to stir up hatred against refugees.

“What happens on the right-wing platforms and in chat rooms is at least as awful as the acts of those assaulting the women,” he said. “This is poisoning the climate of our society.”

Almost 100 women have told police they were sexually assaulted or robbed by a gang of men “of North African or Arab appearance” near the city’s main train station on New Year’s Eve. Among the women two were reportedly raped.