Three Police Officers, Journalist Injured in Cologne Anti-Islamic Riots

Three police officers and a journalist were injured during the riots in Cologne, which took place during and after rallies by the anti-Islamic movement Pegida and its rival "Cologne against Right-wingers" were dispersed by police on Saturday, local media reported.

BERLIN (Sputnik) – The injured journalist was taken to a hospital, the Kolner Stadt-Anzeiger newspaper reported, citing police. According to earlier media reports, two police officers were injured.

Hundreds attend PEGIDA rally in Cologne https://t.co/fjrhSAUrsx pic.twitter.com/FvSyDVdleY

— Schreiner (@NickSchreiner07) January 9, 2016

​Earlier in the day, police used water cannons and formed a human chain in an effort to regain control of the situation amid the riots, calling on the demonstrators to disperse.

The rallies come just days after dozens of women in Cologne were robbed, threatened and sexually assaulted by small groups of aggressive men mostly of Arab and North African origin. The German Interior Ministry announced on Friday that 29 of 32 identified assailants were migrants.

PEGIDA Rally In Cologne Derailed By Violent Protesters #SecureTheBorder #NoRefugees #Islam https://t.co/YEk6Vg2y6w pic.twitter.com/mfx0gEcEFx

— Linda Suhler, Ph.D. (@LindaSuhler) January 9, 2016

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