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Michael Sohn

Three arrested after 26 women report sexual assaults at German music festival

The mostly young women said they were encircled and groped by groups of men.

GERMAN POLICE HAVE arrested three Pakistani suspects as 26 women have reported becoming victims of sexual assaults at a music festival, authorities said.

The mostly young women said they were encircled and groped by groups of men on Saturday night in ways that recalled a spate of mob attacks at chaotic New Year’s festivities in Cologne.

Police said they were investigating whether the perpetrators also robbed the women in the latest attacks at a four-day open air music festival in the western city of Darmstadt.

Initially three women had filed charges, leading to the arrests of the three men, Pakistani asylum seekers aged 28 to 31, and another 23 women have come forward since.

Police said they were searching for another two or three men and said in a statement that “the women have reported that they appeared to be men from the South Asia region”.

The Cologne attacks – committed in a crowd of mostly Arabic and North African men – appalled Germany and sharpened public concern about the arrival of over one million mostly asylum seekers last year, most from the Middle East.

In the inflamed debate, far-right groups railed against “sex jihadists” and “rapefugees”.

© – AFP 2016

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    Mute Squiddley Diddley
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    Sep 16th 2019, 8:48 AM

    RIP. When the post-punk people are dying you know the combine has moved into our field.

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    Mute Michael Kavanagh
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    Sep 16th 2019, 9:42 AM

    @Squiddley Diddley:
    That is a great way of putting it!

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    Mute James Wallace
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    Sep 16th 2019, 10:02 AM

    @Squiddley Diddley: is the Grim Reaper using a combine now? Back in the day he used a scythe, more environmentally friendly!

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    Mute Dave O'Keeffe
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    Sep 16th 2019, 10:07 AM

    @James Wallace: more efficient due to population growth

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    Mute anthony byrne
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    Sep 16th 2019, 10:57 AM

    @Squiddley Diddley: Briliant.

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    Mute Edward Fitzgerald
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    Sep 16th 2019, 11:28 AM

    @James Wallace: the grim reaper like us all has to move on with modern technology I don’t think he’s overly concerned about the environment

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    Mute Seriously stunned
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    Sep 16th 2019, 8:38 AM

    Their song “drive” will forever bring me back to that day in 1985 when live aid was broadcast. every time i hear it.
    R.I.P.

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    Mute Means of escape
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    Sep 16th 2019, 12:51 PM

    @Seriously stunned: listen to their version of Heartbeat City at the concert
    Blew other bands away with their sound

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    Mute Brian Dunne
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    Sep 16th 2019, 8:13 AM

    Great band. Eddie money died last week too. Two great exponents of radio rock

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    Mute Barry O Toole
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    Sep 16th 2019, 9:03 AM

    Sad news a brilliant group just what i needed one of my favourite songs back together now with ben orr rip ric

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    Mute james comiskey
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    Sep 16th 2019, 10:26 AM

    Heartbeat City is a cracking tune. Never seems to get airtime.

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    Sep 16th 2019, 9:26 PM

    @james comiskey:
    Great tune…

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    Sep 16th 2019, 9:59 AM

    RIP Rick, hope you’re having a beer and a laugh with Ben now, wherever you are. Thanks for the music.

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    Mute Paul Furey
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    Sep 16th 2019, 9:32 AM

    Band Aid 1984

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    Mute Colm Malone
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    Sep 16th 2019, 8:15 PM

    Musical genius, he wrote lots of modern hits for other artists also

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    Sep 17th 2019, 10:30 AM

    One of the greats, The Cars have always been a band I listened to and still do. They had it all, hooks, great players and the voice.
    Famed for their brilliance live too

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