Merkel vows tougher action against criminal refugees after Cologne assaults

German Chancellor Angela Merkel announced on Saturday that her party has decided to take tougher action against criminal refugees after a spate of attacks and sexual assaults in Cologne by suspects that include refugees.

"If criminal offenses are committed and people stand outside the law ...then there must be consequences for the asylum applications and applications for residence permits," said Merkel.

The changes are "in the interest of citizens, but also in the interests of the vast majority of the refugees as well", she said.

She also said that serial offenders who repeatedly commit theft or repeatedly offend women need to "feel the hardness of the law".

On New Year's Eve, a group of about 1,000 men have surrounded, harassed and robbed, especially women in the western German city of Cologne.

According to eyewitnesses and victims, the perpetrators were men of Arab and North African appearance.

The assaults in Cologne were "disgusting, criminal deeds that require robust responses," said Merkel.

The number of criminal charges after assaults in Cologne has increased dramatically from around 170 to 379, German police said on Saturday.

So far, German police have identified a total of 31 suspects, most of whom were asylum seekers. Enditem