Mass sexual assaults in Cologne on New Years Eve

[Cellardoor1]

I've just read this and I'm shocked that such a thing could happen. A group of around 1,000 men gathered and assaulted at least 60 women and girls and also pickpocketed people. Apparently the news wasn't released until now out of fears it could stir up tension as the men appeared to be of Arab/North African appearance, possibly refugees.

abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/cologne-police-chief-condemns-sex-assaults-years-eve-36083833

I have been watching it on Twitter - starting to increase in tweets now. Surely there has to be a proper report and investigation as all the speculation and/or inaction is going to be very dangerous

I think it's pretty clear from what the Hauptkomissar in Cologne police has to say that there were woefully few police available.

And yes, I entirely agree, what if a bomb had gone off or someone had started shooting?

This is the second time in 18 months that cologne police have been completely caught out, the first being the race riots in 2014. As a cologne resident I'm absolutely livid to think I'm not safe in my own city.

Second your post Bit. You have to see it to believe at midnight - Germans just go bonkers with fireworks. Can you imagine the mix of crowds, copious amounts of alcohol consumed and then fireworks? I'm surprised there aren't more serious accidents at New Year.

But back to these assaults - where on earth were the police? I suppose it was only once they put together the accounts of these poor women that it became clear that these weren't isolated cases, but something carefully organised. It's horrific. I'm in Germany, I have a teenage daughter, today I've enrolled her on a self defence course.

Actually, reading those reports, it wouldn't have been surprising if there had been a death or two.
Yes, I think this was an act of terror. It seems to be designed to frighten German women into staying at home. To push them out of public spaces.
It's just unbelievable that European leaders are so willing for their own people to be pushed around in their own country.

German health and safety can be somewhat surprising to a Brit to say the least. As a country which generally doesn't feel too "foreign" sometimes you're left with a "wtf?" face....

Perhaps the police were caught up with the "imminent terror attacks" happening elsewhere in Germany, and as this was unexpected and not terror-related, didn't prioritise it?

It's appalling that this can happen in Europe - it's appalling that it happens anywhere, of course, but more so when it's on home territory where we know this sort of behaviour is completely unacceptable. I wonder too whether more victims will come forward now it's more widely known? I know when it happens to you, you tend to minimise what's happened, but I hope as people realise they aren't alone in having been assaulted, they also go to the police.

All the video clips so far are of the fireworks - understandable, since that's what people would be filming - apart from one of the police/fire services preparing for action. It's a mistake to conflate poor firework behaviour with concerted sexual assaults, there's no connection! FWIW, I once made a rapid exit from the Bastille Day celebration due to people throwing fireworks; it was totally normal for Paris.

I agree Onthephone. Where were the police? I live n what is considered a 'rough' city in the UK and this woud be considered a riot and absolutely not safe

x-posted with many, I see

Horrified to read this.

I don't want to hijack the thread but may I share my own similar experience?

On NYE 2013 me, my husband and daughter (14) we're trying to get to the Gary Barlow gig at Central Hall Westminster.
Many roads were closed, our taxi driver was clueless and he dropped us at Blackfriars Bridge and suggested we walk to the venue.

We walked along the embankment, as soon as the crowd got to the deepest point we formed a chain by holding hands (husband-daughter-me) and tried to get through the crowd.
As you can imagine, nobody wanted to let us through, people thought we were trying to get to the front for the best view. The police wouldn't / couldn't let us out and advised us to carry on pushing through the crowd

It was absolutely rammed, people were packed in so tightly.

We got to a point where we were at a standstill, daughter was sandwiched between me and my husband.
Thank goodness, as someone put their hand up my dress and grabbed me in such an aggressive and forceful way. Had I not have been wearing 100 denier tights I am quite certain that they would have penetrated me.
To my mind there was definitely more than one or one pair of hands on me

When I turned around to see if I could see who was behind me, all I saw was huge group of men.
I don't know how to say this politically correctly, but they weren't white and I'm pretty sure from their shouts and laughter that they weren't British.

I was shocked by what happened and relieved (that it wasn't my daughter that was attacked). I often wonder how many more people were assaulted by that group that night.

Thanks for reading, that's not a story I tell much IRL x

Arfur sorry that happened to you - it would be terrifying at any time, but must have been more so since your daughter was with you

Garlic I don't think anyone was "conflat[ing] poor firework behaviour with concerted sexual assaults"

I think a number of us were explaining to a poster who believed that a clip with a lot of random fireowrks was unusual because of the fireworks. Quite clearly nobody in Germany would have been surprised to see people letting fireworks off because it is normal on NYE so that in itself wouldn't have alerted anyone to the horrors that were going on amongst that crowd - that's what we were saying

Fucks sakes Arfur, that's awful. Did you report it? I know the police are unlikely to find the person but the crime stats matter.

I know this is common in India for example, known as Eveteasing. It happened to my friend a couple of times when she was traveling and I have heard of FoFs too

Have to say that if this starts to become in anyway increased int he UK there is going to be a lot of trouble, not least of which from the women, as I am not going to stand by and accept it

Thanks, Bit. Reading too quickly.

Sorry I missed the 2013 bit. So stat wise a bit late. Fuckers

Bitout Nobody bats an eyelid in Holland

Not quite true. Have you not been following the news about calls to have it all banned?

I was shocked and horrified to read it this morning on the BBC site.

I was also shocked that it was not even mentioned in the Guardian which I looked at afterwards. There is now a short article about it. I had read comments last year that the Guardian generally avoids stuff like that, i.e. what goes on in Malmo Sweden (also lots of misogynistic stuff happening to women, assaults etc.).

It's a fucking disgrace what is going on!

I for one will be looking to find some tear gas if I should go out on a major night like that (hardly ever do anymore too old).

Oh, and I don't agree with future politicians of arab descent will necessarily be carrying their rubbish views into their careers.

www.mediaite.com/tv/dutch-muslim-mayor-to-other-muslims-accept-western-values-or-go-back-home/

facksake, that is such a shitty thing to happen. I am also glad it wasn't your dd who experienced this assault but what a terrifying and humiliating experience for you, i am appalled and angry on your behalf.

Arfur that sounds terrifying. I'm so sorry that happened to you

polen I feel the same as you. I am sick of society standing idly by while women are assaulted, harrassed, intimidated, raped and killed. It makes me feel sick

Polent - it will increase in the UK, it's unavoidable, and anyone who thinks otherwise has their head in the clouds. In fact it already is increasing. My guess is, if it does get reported, it's kept quiet for the sake of "racial tension". Arfur, I'm so, so sorry to hear what happened to you. You must have felt violated and traumatised, but like you say, thank god it wasn't your daughter. Hugs to you.

Thank you heftzi, yes, it weird to feel "grateful" that it was me and not my then 14 year old.

Polentapies - no, and I hugely regret it.
After we had got through the crowd, we ran from Big Ben to the venue as the broadcast was live and there were transmission deadlines so we needed to get in the hall asap.
My daughter had a panic attack (her first) when we arrived, I cannot begin to explain how overwhelming it was trying to push through literally a million people!
I then got swept up in the atmosphere of the gig.
I felt terrible about it on NY day, dirty and a oddly a bit guilty.
I think I told my husband around the 2/3 Jan. He was brilliant about the whole sordid thing.

Ifly well if that ban goes as well as the ban on smoking in pubs, I won't be surprised. Did you see the pictures of the absolutely enormous bonfire on the beach at Scheveningen on NYE - I am amazed nobody was killed.

Anyway, that's a bit of an aside!

The Guardian moderation is interesting and perplexing to watch in action too.

Thank you for all the lovely supportive comments.

Strangely cathartic to write it down and receive kindness from strangers.

I doubt if I've told more than 3 real people.

Anyway, as you were!

The smoking ban was a massive fudge in Germany.

Oh bless you Arfur I'm glad it helped to say it out loud. I found, when I finally spoke out about what happened to me, that saying it loud, confidently and without shame or any blame on myself, I actually started to believe that I was confident and without shame or blame.