More than one-third of Germans said their view of foreigners had worsened following a New Year's Eve spate of at least 200 alleged sex assaults carried out mostly by North African men in Cologne, according to a new survey.<br />The poll by the Forsa Institute highlighted a sudden negative shift in how Germans perceive people from abroad after their country last year emerged as an optimistic champion of migrants and refugees.<br />German leader Angela Merkel's open-door policy and slogan "We Can Do It" accompanied the arrival of some 1.1 million people into the country last year - including many Syrians fleeing war in the homeland.<br />However, Sunday's poll said 37 percent of Germans had a more negative outlook on foreigners following the alleged Cologne assaults, while 60 percent said their view remained unchanged.<br />Justice Minister Heiko Maas told "Bild" on Sunday that he believed the attacks were "coordinated and prepared," adding that this would "add another dimension [to the crimes]."
