Berlin: A group of Pakistanis and a Syrian were attacked on Sunday in Cologne amid tensions over New Year’s Eve assaults in the city that have been blamed largely on foreigners. Six Pakistani nationals were attacked by around 20 people and two of them were briefly admitted to a hospital. A Syrian man was attacked by five people. He was injured but didn’t need treatment.

Police said they had received tips about groups of people who would “seek provocation,” but were still investigating whether the subsequent attacks were racially motivated and whether there was any link to the assaults.