Cologne police offenders in their sights

cologne - The German police have identified three suspects who allegedly carried out in Cologne in assaults and robberies of women around New Year. The Minister of Internal Affairs of the State concerned, North Rhine-Westphalia, Ralf Jäger, this Wednesday told the newspaper Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger.

Jäger did little else to say about the three suspects and the investigation because it is still running. He said no arrests have yet been made.

The number of reports has risen to 106 in Cologne, including two for rape. Three quarters of the declarations has a sexual background, police said Wednesday.

After the interrogations of victims, there is a clearer picture of what happened on the station and at the station in Cologne. Many women interviewed mentioned that they are groped , said a police spokesman. The evidence, according to the police very difficult, especially because of the complexity on sight.

About a thousand people had gathered at the station, who threw fireworks. When police intervened, formed smaller groups. Then women would be surrounded, harassed and robbed. It went according to the testimonies to offenders with a North African appearance. About two thirds of the victims did not come from Cologne and for the New Year celebrations come to the cathedral city.

Police Wolfgang Albers pointed criticism of his corps of hand. There was the square there is a difficult situation, but we have done what we could , he said.

The German Minister of Justice, Heiko Maas, thinks the assaults and robberies may be planned in advance. It all seems to work agreed to be , said Maas Wednesday morning for the public broadcaster ZDF. It must be examined whether there were people in the background who organized this, if something does not happen so suddenly , Maas wondered aloud.