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| Cologne sexual assaults: Angela Merkel begins U-turn on immigration policy following attacks | Cologne sexual assaults: Angela Merkel begins U-turn on immigration policy following attacks |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| German Chancellor Angela Merkel has said she is considering changing the law to allow immigrants who commit crimes to be expelled from Germany faster, it has been reported. | German Chancellor Angela Merkel has said she is considering changing the law to allow immigrants who commit crimes to be expelled from Germany faster, it has been reported. |
| The apparent policy U-turn comes following reports of mass sexual assault and a number of rapes allegedly undertaken by men from among a group of more than a thousand in Cologne on New Year’s Eve. | |
| In light of claims that a large number of the attackers were of North African and Arab appearance, politicians in Germany have called for tighter rules on immigration. | In light of claims that a large number of the attackers were of North African and Arab appearance, politicians in Germany have called for tighter rules on immigration. |
| Currently, asylum seekers are only deported if they have been sentenced to jail for at least three years and are deemed to not represent a threat to people in their home country. However, Deutsche Welle reports that Chancellor Merkel has said she is now open to changing the law to make expulsion considerably quicker. | Currently, asylum seekers are only deported if they have been sentenced to jail for at least three years and are deemed to not represent a threat to people in their home country. However, Deutsche Welle reports that Chancellor Merkel has said she is now open to changing the law to make expulsion considerably quicker. |
| She has reportedly told a party meeting in Mainz: “The most important thing is that the facts about what happened are spoken about openly and bluntly. Terrible things happened, and we must respond to them.” | She has reportedly told a party meeting in Mainz: “The most important thing is that the facts about what happened are spoken about openly and bluntly. Terrible things happened, and we must respond to them.” |
| When asked whether she believes it should be possible for criminal immigrants to have their right to remain in Germany revoked, she reportedly said: “We should ask ourselves whether it might be necessary to take this away earlier and I have to say that for me, we must take it away sooner.” | When asked whether she believes it should be possible for criminal immigrants to have their right to remain in Germany revoked, she reportedly said: “We should ask ourselves whether it might be necessary to take this away earlier and I have to say that for me, we must take it away sooner.” |
| During 2015, Germany accepted more than a million refugees, many of whom were fleeing conflict in the Middle East. | During 2015, Germany accepted more than a million refugees, many of whom were fleeing conflict in the Middle East. |
| The New Year’s Eve attacks have shocked the country. More than a hundred women are believed to have been attacked; molested sexually and beaten physically, as well as being intimidated and threatened. | The New Year’s Eve attacks have shocked the country. More than a hundred women are believed to have been attacked; molested sexually and beaten physically, as well as being intimidated and threatened. |