- The Washington Times - Friday, February 5, 2016

Police in Cologne, Germany, said 22 sexual assaults occurred in the city on the first night of the traditional Carnival celebrations.

So far, 190 people have been taken into custody since the start of the event Thursday. Officials did not specify the race of the suspects, simply describing them as “a cross-section of the general public,” BBC reported.

The latest string of assaults comes just over a month after hundreds of women reported being sexually assaulted on New Year’s Eve by a group of migrant men.

Police said the number of sex attacks on the first night of Carnival was higher than last year’s event.

One suspect was in custody after a woman was attacked and raped on her way home, police said, the BBC reported.

The city has beefed up security around the event, which usually draws 1.5 million visitors, deploying 2,500 officers who are using enhanced security measures.

• Kellan Howell can be reached at khowell@washingtontimes.com.

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