Teenage victim of Cologne sex mob describes harrowing ordeal
Michelle, a German 18-year-old, has described harrowing ordeal in Cologne
Similar attacks also occurred on New Year's Eve in Hamburg and Stuttgart
Police have admitted they fear it was part of a known criminal enterprise
Cologne town centre has been called a 'no-go area' by its own city council
Councillor Judith Wolter said it was no longer considered safe for women
Media are accused of covering up previous incidents to avoid tensions
There are now fears the upcoming carnival will be scene of similar assaultsAn 18-year-old victim of the sex attacks in Cologne has described being surrounded by a group of 30 'angry' men who groped her and her friends then stole their belongings as they fled.
The teenager, named only as Michelle, appeared on German TV to recount the harrowing ordeal she endured during the city's New Year's Eve celebrations last week.
Police say the wave of attacks - which has so far seen 90 women report being assaulted - were perpetrated by groups of 'Arab or North African' men in the city centre.
Michelle's shocking testimony comes as the city's own council today admitted its town centre was now a 'no-go area' for women, while it has emerged similar attacks occurred the same night across Hamburg and Stuttgart.
Alarmingly, police in Dusseldorf fear the attacks may be linked to a known criminal gang comprising 2,000 North African men who use sexual assault as a means of distraction.
And while German media and authorities stand accused of covering up previous incidents to avoid stoking tensions, there are fears the upcoming carnival celebrations in Cologne will see a repeat of the brazen attacks.
Michelle, an 18-year-old from Germany, described how she and her friends were surrounded by a pack of men 'full of anger' who groped them before stealing their belongings as they fled during last week's wave of attacks
Hundreds of people gather in front of Cologne's main railway station, where disorder broke out last week and groups of 'Arab or North African' men attacked dozens of women
Groups of revellers gather in the city centre during the celebrations last week which quickly turned to chaos
A police van makes its way through the throngs of people who gathered to see in the new year in Cologne last week
A group of men set off fireworks during the New Year's Eve celebrations in Cologne last week. Police say groups of men (not pictured) were responsible for coordinated attacks on women
Although there were some disruptions caused by fireworks (pictured) and general disorder, it was only several days later the true scale of the sex attacks at the public celebrations were revealed
Her testimony comes as the city's own council has admitted the town centre is now a 'no-go area' for women, while protesters angered by authorities' alleged inaction held demonstrations last night.
Witnesses and police have described men working in 'coordinated' groups to grope women who were unable to escape, while at least one woman reported she was raped.
Michelle told N-TV: 'There were 11 of us together at the time.
'At around 11pm we were at the main train station and wanted to travel on to see the fireworks, and that was when we first noticed all these men standing around.
'We managed to go into the cathedral and wanted to go past the Museum Ludwig to join everyone and watch the fireworks by the river, but suddenly we were surrounded by a group of between 20 and 30 men.'
Sensing danger, she and her friends then grabbed each other and started holding hands.
'They were full of anger, and we had to make sure that none of us were pulled away by them. They were groping us and we were trying to get away as quickly as possible.'
As they fled and were groped, the men also took the opportunity to rob objects from their pockets, stealing mobile telephones as the teenage girls fled.
Later as they attempted to go home, they noticed how more men were shooting rockets and other fireworks at each other near the train station.
'It was around 12:30 and we went back to the train station to catch a train that was supposed to go at 1am. But there were so many people around it was really difficult to get to the platform.'
Police working near the main railway station in Cologne arrest a man during the riotous party in the city centre
A couple sit on a step while two police officers check an abandoned bag left in the city centre of Cologne
Although police across Europe were on high alert for possible terror attacks on New Year's Eve, Cologne police chiefs have also come under fire for not preventing the sex attacks
She said it was impossible for them to stay together and that her group got separated.
'It was only when I got to the platform that I realised my train was not travelling, as I had to go back through the mass of men and walked the 5 kilometres [3miles] home by foot.'
While police have not yet made any arrests in relation to the sex attacks, they claim to have identified three suspects.
Ralf Jaeger, Interior Minister of the state of North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) declined to give further details of the investigation but said he expected 'a very detailed report' this week from the police.
Michelle's harrowing testimony comes as Cologne city councillor Judith Wolter wrote a letter urging people to avoid the city centre after declaring it unsafe 'for women' in the wake of the attacks.
Mrs Wolter, a council group leader and opposition councillor, also warned the upcoming carnival should be considered equally dangerous.
She wrote: 'The area in and around the central station, the cathedral and the adjoining area towards the banks of the Rhine can be for tourists [and locals] no longer considered - even in normal times - as safe.'
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3386673/Women-Cologne-lockdown-council-admits-no-longer-safe-wake-African-Arab-mob-s-rapes-declares-upcoming-carnival-no-area-females.html