Germany sex assaults: Protesters say 'rapefugees not welcome'

Protesters flooded the streets of Leipzig on Monday night, blaming the sex assaults on migrants who have entered the country.

"Rapefugees not welcome," one of the signs read.

Leipzig official Maria Braunsdorf said police surrounded at least 250 right-wing extremists after some local businesses were ransacked.

But counter-demonstrators showed their support for the refugees, with one banner reading, "Willkommen in Leipzig" -- Welcome to Leipzig.

The anxiety over migrants in Germany heightened after dozens of foreigners were arrested in connection with some of the New Year's Eve attacks.

Police in Cologne say they've filed 516 charges stemming from that night -- 40% of which relate to sexual assaults.

They said at least 31 people, most from North African or Middle Eastern countries, have been charged so far in the attacks. Of those, 18 have been identified as asylum seekers.

After police identified some of the suspects as migrants, several foreigners in Cologne came under attack.

A gang of 20 men attacked at least six Pakistani nationals Sunday, Cologne police said. Two of the victims had to be hospitalized.

Afterward, five men attacked and injured a man of Syrian descent, police said.

Authorities detained two people after the the assaults on the men.

A national debate

Some of the women who reported being sexually assaulted or robbed by mobs in Cologne described their assailants as having a Arab or North African appearance.

The reported assaults have sparked fierce public debate about German Chancellor Angela Merkel's liberal policies toward migrants and have unleashed a wave of anger over authorities' response to the attacks.

Merkel has condemned the attacks in Germany as "disgusting, criminal acts." But she did not back down on her commitment to welcome refugees who obey German laws and pledge to integrate into German society.

Cologne police Chief Wolfgang Albers was fired Friday amid criticism of his department's handling of the violence.

And Cologne Mayor Henriette Reker has been slammed for advising women to keep "more than an arm's length" away from unknown men in response to the assaults.

Reker later said her comments had been taken out of context.

(CNN)