Hundreds of 'African' men detained in Cologne to 'avoid repeat of New Year attacks'

Shocking attacks: Hundreds of incidents happened close to Cologne station
Reuters
Fiona Simpson1 January 2017

Hundreds of men “seemingly of African descent” have been detained in Cologne follow a spate of horrific attacks on last New Year.

German police said the men were being held in a bid to prevent a repeat of hundreds of robberies and sexual assaults that took place in the city last year.

Police chiefs said the men were detained at two main railway stations so officers could question them and check their identities.

Authorities deployed more than 1,500 officers across Cologne during celebrations following criticism that they failed to stop last year’s attacks which were blamed largely on men of North African origin.

Some revellers this year complained on Twitter that police appeared to be detaining people based on their appearance.

By early Sunday police had received reports of two women being sexually assaulted in the city.

One man has been arrested.

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