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Reporter groped during live-cross at Cologne carnival as sex-assault complaints rise

A Belgian news reporter was groped during a live-TV cross at the giant carnival in Cologne.

RTBF journalist Esmeralda Labye was reporting from the street in the German city when two white men approached and simulated sexual acts behind her back before one grabbed her breast.

With a large drink can in one hand, one of the men walked up to Labye and begun thrusting behind her during a piece to camera. Another man was making lewd gestures.

Journalist Esmeralda Labye was doing a live cross from downtown Cologne. Source: RTBF
Journalist Esmeralda Labye was doing a live cross from downtown Cologne. Source: RTBF

The man was drawn away by another person but not before someone grabbed the reporter's breast. Despite trying to hide a look of disgust on her face, Labye maintains her professional composure.

"At first they were just making faces behind me. Then a hand landed on my breast. I was shocked,” said Labye after the incident in the city's downtown area.

"My piece to camera was chaotic, people showing middle fingers, a man who was having fun miming a sex act behind me and above all the hand placed on my breast," Labye said.

Two men made rude gestures to Labye before one groped her breast. Source: RTBF
Two men made rude gestures to Labye before one groped her breast. Source: RTBF

Police are investigating the incident but the men are reportedly still at large despite their faces being clearly visible in the video.

Cologne's police have been struggling to redeem their standing in the community following a number sexual assaults and some reported rapes on New Year's Eve.

Labye remained professional throughout the incident but later said she was shocked. Source: RTBF
Labye remained professional throughout the incident but later said she was shocked. Source: RTBF

The assaults were said to have been perpetrated by men of Middle Eastern and North African appearance and more than 1,000 complaints have been filed in relation to those incidents.

Cologne police said they recorded 22 complaints of sexual assault on the first day of the city's giant carnival, after security was beefed up to prevent a repeat of the New Year's Eve crime spree that shocked Germany.



The number of cases was sharply up from the nine reported on the opening day last year, but police put it down to the greater readiness of victims to report crime.

The complaints ranged from harassment to one reported rape, police said, adding that on average, around 50 sexual offences are recorded annually during the week-long carnival.

News break – February 6