IMMIGRATION

More Germans have doubt over migrants after New Year assaults

Berlin (AFP) - Most Germans now doubt their country's ability to cope with a record migrant influx, and fear refugees more, after the New Year's Eve mass assaults on women in Cologne, opinion polls released Friday show.

The Cologne attacks clearly had an impact, the broadcaster said, as only 46 percent of people surveyed in December felt that way.

The poll of 1,203 people over January 12 to 14 also found that a majority (56 percent) are now dissatisfied with German Chancellor Angela Merkel's refugee policies, up from 49 percent in December.

Seven people in 10 fear the influx will lead to more crime, compared to 62 percent in October.

And a growing minority, now at 42 percent from 33 percent in October, say they fear their cultural values are under threat.

A separate survey by the group DeutschlandTrend for the state TV ARD found that 51 percent of German adults said they do not believe Merkel's repeated claim -- "we will manage" -- that Germany can absorb the inflow.

In October, 48 percent of respondents said they had this view.

The poll also found that 48 percent of those surveyed said they were afraid of refugees, while 50 percent said they did not have this view. That question was not asked in October.

The survey covered 1,000 people who were interviewed by phone on January 12 and 13.

Hundreds of women were groped and robbed in a throng of mostly Arab and North African men outside the main railway station of Cologne.

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