German newspaper apologizes for racist cover photo to Cologne assaults

German newspaper Sueddeutsche Zeitung apologized on Sunday to its readers for an illustration to the Cologne assaults on the front page of the weekend edition.

Editor in chief of Sueddeutsche Zeitung Wolfgang Krach wrote on Sunday on facebook that the illustration showing a black man's hand between two white female legs "caused incomprehension and anger" among a number of readers, who criticized it as "sexist and racist".

The newspaper intended to make clear through the illustration "that sexual violence against women is not just about physical assaults, but mostly begins in the head and with thinking", according to Krach.

He wrote: "We are sorry if we have offended with the illustration the feelings of readers, and we apologize for it."

Meanwhile, the number of criminal complaints filed after numerous attacks on New Year's Eve in the western German city of Cologne has increased dramatically from 379 to 516, German police said on Sunday.

On New Year's Eve, a group of some 1,000 men have surrounded, harassed and robbed, especially women in Cologne.

According to eyewitnesses and victims, the perpetrators were from the Arabic or North African region regarding their appearance. However, German Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere once stressed that there should be no general suspicion towards refugees.

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

German Chancellor Angela Merkel has announced that her party has decided to take tougher action against criminal refugees. Endit