German chancellor Angela Merkel is facing increasing pressure at home after her justice minister warned that attackers identified as migrants in Cologne on New Year’s Eve were members of an organised crime network.
Heiko Maas said the mass sexual assaults and robberies that took place in the centre of the German city as thousands celebrated were co-ordinated by men using smart phones and social networks.
His claim came as Ms Merkel cancelled her regular trip to the Davos World Economic Forum, the global leaders’ gathering, this month in the wake of growing public outrage, mounting criticism of her refugee policy and worries over integrating migrants.