Merkel cancels Davos trip as pressure mounts

German chancellor Angela Merkel is facing increasing pressure at home after her justice minister yesterday 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 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.

More than 500 women have now filed criminal complaints over the new year attacks in Cologne, with 40 per cent alleging sexual assaults and many victims identifying their attackers as men of Arab or North African origin.

In an interview with the Bild am Sonntag newspaper, Mr Maas said: “Nobody can tell me that this was not co- ordinated or prepared . . . When such a horde meets to commit criminal acts it looks like it was planned in some form.”

His remarks are significant as he is one of the Social Democrat members of Ms Merkel’s Christian Democrat-led grand coalition, and his party has championed minority rights for years. Now, under public pressure for action, the SPD is joining the chancellor’s CDU party in proposing tougher laws on migrant criminals.

Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2016