Most of the men who sexually assaulted hundreds of women on New Year’s Eve in Cologne, Germany, may never be caught, the city’s police chief said.
Police have so far identified 75 suspects in connections with robberies during the New Year’s Eve celebrations that took place around Cologne station, but so far only one man has been arrested on suspicion of sexual assault.
Cologne police Chief Juergen Mathies told BBC News that police do not have enough evidence to track down and charge the men accused of committing the sex crimes because the CCTV security camera footage from that night is not clear enough to identify the sexual assaults.
Chief Mathies said police have been able to spot some thefts in the footage, but that is all. He said officials are relying on witness accounts and victims identifying their attackers.
The attacks have largely been blamed on people from North African countries who entered Germany illegally or have sought asylum.
One 23-year-old Moroccan man, named only as Younis A., was given a suspended six-month sentence and a $100 fine for stealing a woman’s cellphone. He is the only person convicted so far for taking part in the spate of attacks, BBC reported.
Another Moroccan and a Tunisian were also due to face trial for theft. They are among 13 men who have been arrested for stealing.
• Kellan Howell can be reached at khowell@washingtontimes.com.
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