Woman Journalist Sexually Assaulted In Cologne, Germany While She Was Reporting Live On TV

It was a reporting assignment that turned into a nightmare for Belgian reporter Esmeralda Labye.

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The broadcast journalist working with Belgium’s RTBF was approached by two or three men. As she was still on-air reporting, the men behind her began making obscene gestures. A man kissed her on the neck, another made some comments to her.

Despite the humiliation Labye continued with her reporting until one of them decided to get even more physical.?

"As I was waiting to wrap up my live, one of the three men touched my breast. At that moment, I lost my temper. I turned and told them in English: 'I won't allow this to happen twice! Don't touch me. Don't touch me", she said.

Police have began a probe into the incident, even though no arrests have been made so far.?

The incident happened in Cologne, during the annual carnival which saw a turnout of thousands of party goers.

AFP

Telegraph

BBC

Cologne had also made international headlines earlier this year, following the sexual assault on hundreds of women by alleged refugees on the New Year's eve.

Following the incident, there was a rise in the anti-refugee sentiment across the country, with many in Germany questioning the government's open door policy towards asylum seekers.

Faced with protest from within, an embarrassed ?government which had initially tried to cover up the sexual assaults had taken extra precautions to avoid such incidents being repeated ?during the carnival.

Telegraph

However, 143 incidents, including 22 cases of sexual assaults were reported from various parts of the city on the first day of the carnival. Even though police have made some arrests, they have refused to disclosed the nationality of the attackers.