New Report from German Police on Sexual Crimes During New Year's Celebrations

The Federal Police of Germany, in a recent report on sexual crimes during New Year's celebrations in the country, states that over a thousand cases of sexual assault have been recorded across Germany, with more than two thousand men likely involved in these crimes. Some German media, including the Süddeutsche Zeitung, have obtained a version of a new police report indicating that sexual crimes on New Year's Eve were not limited to Cologne but also occurred in Hamburg, Düsseldorf, Stuttgart, and other cities. Police officials estimate that at least two thousand men were involved in the crimes, but only 120 of them have been identified. According to the police, most of the crimes occurred in large groups, which has increased both the number of suspects and victims. Holger Münch, head of the Criminal Division of the Federal Police (BKA), stated that there is a correlation between the influx of migrants and the occurrence of this phenomenon. The new BKA report indicates that most of the men suspected of committing these crimes are from North African countries, with some Syrians also among the suspects. The report adds that more than half of those suspected of sexual assault had been in Germany for less than a year. Münch stated that there is no evidence that these crimes were carried out in a coordinated and planned manner. Shortly after the sexual crimes during New Year's celebrations, the German Ministry of Justice suggested that these events might have been 'planned crimes.' The Federal Police of Germany is expected to release a complete version of its new report in the coming days. An initial report on investigations in Cologne was published last January and showed that none of the suspects were German citizens. In the days following the crimes, at least 11 foreign citizens were also injured in retaliatory attacks. Since then, the number of recorded crimes has nearly doubled. A large number of refugees and migrants have reached Germany in the past two years due to a crisis largely stemming from increased wars and violent tensions in West Asia and parts of Africa. The occurrence of crimes like those during the New Year's events has led extremist and right-wing groups, such as 'Alternative for Germany' (AfD), to intensify their attacks and criticisms of the German Chancellor's policies.