Worrying situation

That's why I said there's more to this than meets the eye. However, we should not jump to the conclusion that Da-esh is behind the attacks. It could just as easily be right wing political parties. We know that many of the men are known to the police in a criminal context which means they are likely to be willing to be paid for their services on New Year's Eve. Either achieve the same results.

Do you really believe that some organisation is behind these attacks? I haven't heard it suggested anywhere else apart from on here.

Have a look at mumsnet Ana - their discussion is interesting and seems well informed as well.

I read this comment on another forum yesterday: It's very frightening when your own government can't protect you. Very scary.
I know that many of you can't believe that these assaults have happened. It doesn't surprise me at all. There are lots more shocks to come.

There are lots of people on Mumsnet who have worked in Germany and are telling their stories as to how this behaviour has been going on for a long time.

The BBC is reporting that the head of Cologne's police force is leaving his post "to restore public trust in the police". The state interior minister has placed Wolfgang Albers in temporary retirement.

Mumsnet is certainly fired up for action, but I am not sure what it can do without the cooperation of other countries. Interesting.

I'm not sure where you get the idea that many of us don't believe these assaults have happened, petra. Has anyone said that? Of course they happened - there's enough first-hand evidence, and why on earth would anyone make it up?

What I don't understand is the apparent conviction that some organisation must be behind it, i.e. Daesh or some right wing political party. Couldn't it just be gangs of disaffected youths going on the rampage?

I don't think anyone knows what's behind it but there are suggestions in some quarters that events in Cologne are the 'terrorist attack' that was threatened by Daesh. I'm fence sitting, don't feel I have enough information to reach a conclusion on that. It feels a bit more than gangs of disaffected youths going on a rampage though, it does feel there has been some kind of coordination and planning.

It certainly happened. I had first hand info from my friend who was there (in Hamburg). Does it have to be co ordinated? Large groups of disaffected young men + unaccustomed alcohol +lack of awareness of other cultures + lack of police = recipe for what happened.

I didn't say that some people are denying these assaults never took place.
I was referring to their comments as to the severity of the assaults.

I know that many of you can't believe that these assaults have happened.

That's what you said, petra.

(your post of 20.42)

Ana I hate conspiracy theories which is why I didn't post my thoughts until tonight. It could just as easily be as you say, with the only organising being passing on the message of the plan. That's so simple these days and could account for the incidents in other countries being on a smaller scale. I hope it is this option.

Hopefully the result we see from the attacks being a crack down on antisocial behaviour described as the norm in Germany. But even then I feel a bit uneasy about in case it's taken to extremes.

At the end of the day the same standard of behaviour should be expected no matter what ethnic background is involved. In any UK city, a group of young men of the size in Cologne who were drinking and letting off fireworks or fire crackers would be dispersed - and definitely not allowed to regroup in the same location. I read earlier Cologne's approach to policing is 'softly softly'. That approach backfired and the top man has been removed. Fair enough. What will happen there next?

Ana. I see. I didn't put that clearly. I meant that some people couldn't accept how sexually violent the attacks were.

I agree with what you say, WilmaK, and I also apologise unreservedly to petra for misinterpreting her post. She didn't say that many of us 'don't believe', but that we 'can't believe', which is obviously completely different.

Sorry, petra.

x posts, petra - yes, I've read about the extent and degree of the attacks, violent and invasive, absolutely abhorrent.

It took several days to report this, thanks to digital spy and those who witnessed it. The German police of chief has been sacked.

Sad to say but I think the lack of police reaction came from the Cologne Council. Cologne is a big tourist hub, this wouldn't go down well, would it?
I've read that hotel bookings are falling off a cliff.

True. However, is this not deliberate? Turkey, Eygyt, etc mean that all travel is worrying? Meanwhile, all the EU countries are impotent to stop this, due to the education of PC?

Why on earth is Mumsnet being mentioned on this thread?! And why is anyone bothering to visit that place anyway?

Of course IS weren't behind it. The Mumsnetters are probably spending too much time on Twitter and the like.

What bothers me is the lack of information on the British News. It has gone on too long now. You all know what I am alluding to. What I want to know is.. Why are we not being protected.

Is it me?!

greenockgran that's just not true about it taking several days to report it. As has already been mentioned, the BBC and the Guardian reported it online New Year's Day and have continued to do so (although I understand that the Guardian has closed its comments option - because of racism no doubt). I think Aljazeera did too.

I think the extent of the incidents has taken time to become known though, such as the possibility of a link with other countries.

jings I'm a member of mumsnet, but I don't like the general atmosphere there. It's so confrontational (and there's too much swearing ). The thread on this subject is a perfect example. I'll stick around here.

What aren't we being protected against?

jings no, it's not you.