Cologne Provides Women’s Security Points For City’s Carnival
Officials in Cologne have set up women only security points for the city’s Carnival, with officials keen to avoid a repeat of the events of New Year’s Eve.
The Frauen Security Points offer women a place to safely flee if they’re being harassed by men - following claims that police did nothing to stop the many alleged incidents at New Year.
More than 1,000 criminal charges were subsequently filed, and 11 people are in custody - most of whom are asylum seekers, according to the prosecutor’s office.
Women complained of being robbed, groped and in one case raped as they passed through a group of about 1,000 men at the foot of the city’s landmark Gothic cathedral.
This type of offence is known in Arabic as Taharrush, meaning gangs of men surrounding women with the intention to rob and sexually assault them.
Witnesses and police described the city’s New Year’s Eve assailants as mostly young men, between 18 and 35 years of age, mainly from North African and Arab regions.
On the safe side: The Frauen Security Point gives women a place to flee to if needed (CEN)
Women who flee to the security points will be escorted to female-only buildings nearby, where they will be protected by security guards and police outside.
Cologne’s pre-Lent celebration began yesterday, and last for five days.
Authorities expect as many as one million people to join in the celebrations on Rose Monday, the high point of the revelry.
Emergency measure: It’s hoped that the enhanced security will help female revellers feel safe (CEN)
Authorities have doubled the number of police officers on duty from last year, adding about 2,500 reinforcements.
The city is forking out almost 500,000 EUR (£384,000) and contributing 400 public order staff and security services to aid law enforcement as tens of thousands of alcohol-fueled revellers take to the streets.
Cologne’s Mayor, Henriette Reker, added at a recent press conference: “Incidents such as on New Year’s Eve must never happen again. The eyes of the world will be looking to see how Cologne manages this challenge.”
