Cologne sex attacks: ‘Rapefugees’ spark revolt against Angela Merkel
The police come after us but they don’t dare touch the Syrians,” complained one young man carrying a “Merkel must go” placard.
Police confirmed that 1,700 officers had been deployed, compared with 140 on New Year’s Eve. Minor clashes were reported but police appeared to be in control.
Some held banners in English saying “Rapefugees not welcome”, a reference to widespread complaints that gangs of North African and other immigrant youths had gone on a rampage of groping and other sexual harassment.
Merkel responded yesterday (Saturday) by proposing a sharp revision of asylum laws to speed up the deportation of migrants who break German laws. Under the current system, only offenders who are sentenced to longer than three years’ imprisonment are liable for deportation.
A counter-demonstration by 1,300 anti-Nazi protesters angered by Pegida’s attempt to make political capital out of assaulted women was blocked several hundred yards away.
“It’s unacceptable that Pegida exploits horrible sexual violence to spread its racist bullshit,” said Emily Michels, 28, who addressed the crowd with a megaphone.
Ironically, activists on both sides agreed that the heavy police presence had been absent when it had been most needed on New Year’s Eve. “The police come after us but they don’t dare touch the Syrians,” complained one young man carrying a “Merkel must go” placard.
Police confirmed that 1,700 officers had been deployed, compared with 140 on New Year’s Eve. Minor clashes were reported but police appeared to be in control.
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/#itm=newscomau|home|nca-homepage-network-most-popular-masthead|1|the-australian|homepage|homepage&itmt=1452432573593
