Cologne sex assaults: Women ready for carnival celebrations despite fear of repeat attacks

Extra security in place after gangs of men – many said to be North African migrants – sexually attacked and robbed female revellers on New Year’s Eve

People wearing costumes celebrate carnival in Cologne, Germany. The carnival peak season has begun with increased security measures in place following a string of New Year's Eve attacks when scores of women reported to have been sexually harassed and robbed at the city's main train station (EPA)

Undeterred by sexual attacks blamed on migrants in the city, German women in clown costumes and wigs kicked off six days of carnival celebrations in Cologne, watched by heavy security.

Some 2,000 police were on duty, about double last year’s number, after fierce criticism of the small force that was helpless on New Year’s Eve when gangs of men – many said to be North African migrants – sexually attacked and robbed female revellers.

Floodlights and video cameras were installed and sales of pepper spray cans were brisk before Weiberfastnacht (women’s carnival), the traditional day when women take over their towns and symbolically castrate men by cutting off their ties.

“I think this is the safest carnival we’ve had for years and it’ll never be this safe again,” said Janina Lange in front of Cologne’s Gothic cathedral.

There were fewer “Jecken” (revellers) in central Cologne than last year, but rain may have kept some away. While it was traditionally the women’s day for the festivities, there were many men in the crowd as well. The attacks on women at New Year in Cologne and other cities exposed fears about the integration of the 1.1 million migrants who arrived last year, plus more this year, and about a possible clash of cultures.

The federal BKA police was quoted by Die Welt as saying further sexual attacks were possible. “We cannot be sure... that the higher sensibility and tougher security measures will prevent a repeat of what happened previously,” die Welt quoted a BKA analysis as saying, adding there was no higher risk of an Islamist attack at carnival.

Reuters