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Cologne sex attacks: New Year video shows woman shout 'don't touch me' as police struggle with attackers

City's police can be seen struggling with members of the crowd to hold them back

Jess Staufenberg
Tuesday 10 May 2016 14:11 BST
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New footage of NYE Cologne celebrations

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New footage has emerged of alleged attacks on hundreds of women outside Cologne train station on New Year's Eve.

Shaky video captures the voice of a woman in a crowd shouting "You are not allowed to touch me, you must not touch me" in German, as people become pressed against each other.

It is unclear whether she is talking to police officers at the scene or assaulters, but more than 467 counts of crimes of a sexual nature ranging from insults to rape were made after the incident in January.

Another voice opens the footage with "Oh my god", followed by a man's voice saying: "There's an emergency here at the train station."

The city's police, dressed in riot gear with neck and head protectors, appear to stand on guard in one part of the footage.

Another shot shows police with their arms around members of the crowd in an attempt to hold them back.

Over 1,000 incidents of sexual and robbery were reported in Cologne during the New Year's Eve celebrations (Getty Images)
Over 1,000 incidents of sexual and robbery were reported in Cologne during the New Year's Eve celebrations (Getty Images) (Getty)

A total of 1,075 criminal complaints were filed by people at the scene - the majority being theft - in an incident which led to accusations German police and politicians had tried to prevent the media learning of the incidents.

German far-right groups have since appeared to capitalise on increased feelings of mistrust towards refugees, using the attacks to stage mass anti-immigration marches through Europe.

Yet only three of 58 attackers arrested so far were new refugees of Syrian or Iraqi descent, with the majority being Algerian and Moroccan who have been residents in Germany for some time.

An Algerian man charged with a sex attack had the case dismissed by a judge on Friday.

Angela Merkel, chancellor of Germany, recently arranged for thousands of apprenticeships to be set up in industry to get new arrivals without transferrable professions into jobs.

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