Fact check: The German Media attempted to cover up the New Years eve sexual assaults in Germany.

1. Summary of the results

The events of New Year's Eve 2015-2016 in Germany, particularly in Cologne, are well-documented across multiple sources. Approximately 1,200 women were sexually assaulted that night ^{[1] [1]}, with around 650 incidents occurring in Cologne alone ^[1]. The Federal Criminal Police Office confirmed these numbers ^[1]. Out of 1,210 criminal complaints filed, 511 involved sexual assaults, but only 32 resulted in convictions, with just two for sexual assault ^[2].

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

Several crucial contextual elements are missing from the original statement:

• Scale and Organization: The attacks involved approximately 1,000 drunk and aggressive young men near Cologne Cathedral ^[3], suggesting an organized nature to the attacks.
• Legal Aftermath: Despite the high number of reported cases, there were very few convictions ^[2], which provides important context about the challenges in prosecuting these crimes.
• Societal Impact: The events triggered significant changes in:
• Refugee policies
• Security measures
• Support for far-right political movements ^{[2] [2]}
• Germany's "refugee welcoming culture" ^[2]

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The claim of a "cover-up" requires more nuanced examination:

• Initial Media Response: While there was initial hesitation by German media to report on the ethnic background of the perpetrators ^[4], this appears to have been more complex than a straightforward "cover-up":
• Some media outlets initially suggested the attackers were likely long-term residents rather than refugees ^[4]
• There was simultaneous reporting of a policeman's claim that detained suspects were asylum seekers ^[3]
• Competing Narratives: The events became a focal point for different political interests:
• Far-right populist debates about immigrant integration and gender equality emerged ^[5]
• The media coverage and political responses were later criticized for potentially promoting xenophobic and Islamophobic narratives ^[5]

Rather than a "cover-up," the evidence suggests a complex situation where media outlets initially struggled with how to report on sensitive aspects of the events, balancing responsible journalism with the risk of stoking xenophobic sentiments. This hesitation was later interpreted by some as deliberate suppression of information.