About 150 people gathered in front of Cologne's cathedral on Tuesday evening to protest against violence against women.

A series of apparently co-ordinated sexual assaults and thefts in the German city of Cologne on New Years Eve has inspired an outpouring of shock and anger.

This was Mayor Henriette Reker's first public comment since the incident, which took place at the city's main train station and prompted more than 90 complaints of groping and harassment.

Cologne police were not ready to deal with the mass sexual assaults committed during New Year's celebrations, the city's police chief told RT, adding that they have never experienced such incidents before.

We heard a woman screaming and crying somewhere in the midst of the crowd, appearing to be escaping from a foreign man, who was shouting back and pointing his finger at her and chasing her with his accomplices.

NELSON: She told reporters it is absolutely improper to link the attacks to refugees living in Cologne simply because the perpetrators are said to look North African.

The delay also really bothered the German interior minister, Thomas de Maiziere.

Responding to the incidents at a press conference Tuesday, Mayor Henriette Reker advised women to "stick together in groups [and] don't get split up, even if you're in a party mood". "It was a nightmare", she said.

He said: "Only in this way can we send a stronger message about the defence of democracy and fight against right-wing extremists, who are stoking the fires of hatred against asylum seekers nearly daily, calling for the defence of the Christian country and accusing migrants of sexism". And police say the attackers appeared to be Arab or North African.

At the same time, Chancellor Angela Merkel is saying that she's outraged at these attacks and that no matter what the perpetrators' ethnic origin or background, that they swiftly be brought to justice.

Some of those who criticized her felt that Reker was blaming women for the attacks and lambasted the idea that women could have simply protected themselves by keeping men at arm's length. "The police should not work like that", he said.

Meanwhile, the police chief in Cologne is refusing to step down despite Muslim groups calling for his resignation and criticism from local politicians.

"We must clarify if what happened is a new form of organized crime against which the state must take measures", he said.

Mr Jaeger also warned that anti-immigrant groups were trying to use the attacks to stir up hatred against refugees.

The attacks have poured fuel on the already-heated debate over immigration. "They attacked us from all sides and touched us everywhere, between our legs... and under our jackets".

In any case, "anyone who commits serious crimes, whatever status he is in, must reckon with being deported from Germany", de Maiziere said.