New Delhi, Jan 8: German Chancellor Angela Merkel condemned Thursday a spate of assaults in Cologne on New Year’s Eve, calling the attacks “intolerable,” according to the Wall Street Journal. Merkel also indicated she would be willing to make deportation practices stricter, while stepping up police presence.
Scores of women in Cologne reported being robbed and sexually assaulted by large groups of men, described as Middle Eastern-looking by witnesses, during New Year’s Eve celebrations. The attacks added to tensions in Germany over recently arrived refugees. However, officials have said it was unclear if those who carried out the attacks were actually refugees.
Merkel said if changes to the law or an increased police presence was needed, then those actions would be the “necessary responses,” according to the Journal. She also added that the German government would look into whether enough has been done to enforce the deportation of culprits in order to send a “clear sign” to those who violate the country’s laws.
