Violent Protests in Cologne Test Merkel's Response on Refugees
- City police break up right-wing Pegida demonstration
- Merkel has sought easier expulsion of law-breaking migrants
Right-wing populist groups gather to protest in Cologne, on Jan. 9, 2015.
Photographer: Sascha Schuermann/Getty ImagesThis article is for subscribers only.
The New Year’s Eve sexual assaults that prompted German Chancellor Angela Merkel to consider changes in refugee policy drew violent protests on Saturday that police had to break up with water cannons.
Some 1,700 supporters of right-wing group Pegida gathered in Cologne to demand action a week after scores of women reported being assaulted as they passed through a group of 1,000 men in front of the city’s main train station. Police had to use force after demonstrators threw bottles and fire crackers at them, spokesman Thomas Held said.