Calls For Police Chief To Quit Over Sex Attacks

Cologne police have been criticised for not mentioning the assaults on New Year's Eve revellers in their initial reports.

There have been calls for Cologne's chief of police to quit after more than 100 New Year revellers were sexually assaulted, robbed or threatened during the city's celebrations.

Police initially failed to mention the assaults in their reports on New Year's Day and described the atmosphere in the city centre as "largely peaceful".

It has now been confirmed the alleged attacks happened when around 1,000 men - described as coming from "the Arab or North African region" - split into gangs after being dispersed by officers for throwing fireworks into the crowd of revellers.

Cologne police chief Wolfgang Albers admitted mistakes were made in the report but insisted officers "did an exemplary job".

However, the city's Express newspaper has called for Mr Albers to resign, saying: "The reputation of the Cologne police has taken a nationwide hit."

The northern port city of Hamburg said it had received 27 reports of similar attacks at New Year's street parties.