Dozens of supporters of the far-right nationalist party Pro NRW marched through Cologne on Saturday, accompanied by some 1,000 police and several hundred counter-protesters.

Authorities erected barriers, parked police vans on side streets and deployed horse-mounted officers to keep the counter-demonstrators separated from the right-wing protesters.

German news agency DPA reported that around 100 far-right extremists took part in the protest while the local "Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger" newspaper reported around 50 to 60 people participated in the march.

The protest against the sexual assaults which took place in Cologne last New Year's Eve was expected to draw some 400 right-wing extremists. A police spokesperson told news agency EPD that turnout was low probably due to the iced streets and cold weather.

Despite a heavy police presence, around 200 counter-protesters were able to block the far-right protester's march, forcing them to change their route, "Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger" reported.

Some of the counter-demonstrators now face criminal proceedings for attempting to disrupt the march and one was arrested.

Both sides shouted chants and took turns giving each other the middle finger.

At one point, counter-demonstrators chanted, "Nazis out" to which the far-right marchers replied "Nafris out," reported "Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger."

Around 200 counter-demonstrators attempted to disrupt the far-right march

Tensions in Cologne

Police in Cologne came under fire again after this year's New Year's Eve celebrations over allegations of racial profiling and using the term "Nafri" to describe groups of North African men who officers targeted for checks during the festivities.

The Pro NRW party, known for its anti-immigrant stance, has since begun selling T-shirts with the word "Nafri" on them to spread intolerance for North Africans in Germany.

During the 2015/2016 New Year's Eve celebrations, hundreds of women were sexually harassed, assaulted and robbed by men who witnesses described as being of Middle Eastern or North African descent.

The assaults sparked public outrage, with many criticizing Cologne police for being unprepared and slow to respond. The assaults also stoked anti-migrant sentiment, particularly within far-right parties.

Right-wing extremists are set to march in the city again next weekend, with police expecting further counter-protests.

How radical is Europe's right? Frauke Petry, Alternative for Germany (AfD) The leader of the Alternative for Germany, Frauke Petry, said police could use guns as a last resort to prevent illegal border crossings, pointing out "that's the law." What began as a euroskeptic party has turned into an anti-establishment and anti-EU force, claiming up to 25 percent of votes in German state elections in March 2016 and taking second place in Chancellor Angela Merkel's home state.

How radical is Europe's right? Marine Le Pen, National Front (France) Many believe Brexit and Donald Trump's victory in the US presidential elections could give new impetus to France's National Front. Established in 1972 and now led by Marine Le Pen, who took over from her father, Jean-Marie Le Pen, in 2011, the National Front is a nationalist party that uses populist rhetoric to promote its anti-immigration and anti-EU positions.

How radical is Europe's right? Geert Wilders, Party for Freedom (The Netherlands) The leader of the Dutch Party for Freedom, Geert Wilders, is one of Europe's most prominent right-wing politicians. He was convicted in December for asking a crowd in 2014 if they wanted more or fewer Moroccans in the country, but no penalty was imposed. His party is considered anti-EU and anti-Islam. It is leading polls ahead of next year's parliamentary elections and currently holds 15 seats.

How radical is Europe's right? Nikos Michaloliakos, Golden Dawn (Greece) Nikos Michaloliakos is the head of Greece's neo-fascist party Golden Dawn. He was arrested in September 2013 along with dozens of other party members and charged with forming a criminal organization. Michaloliakos was released in July 2015. Golden Dawn won 18 seats in parliamentary elections in September 2016. The party holds anti-immigrant views and favors a defense agreement with Russia.

How radical is Europe's right? Gabor Vona, Jobbik (Hungary) Hungary's anti-immigration, populist and economic protectionist party Jobbik aspires to be in the government by 2018. Now Hungary's third-largest party, it won 20 percent of votes in the last elections held in 2014. It wants a referendum on EU membership. Jobbik also advocates criminalizing "sexual deviancy," submitting a bill targeting homosexuals in 2012. Jobbik is headed by Gabor Vona.

How radical is Europe's right? Jimmie Akesson, Sweden Democrats After Trump's election, Sweden Democrats leader Jimmie Akesson said in an interview with Swedish TV: "There is a movement in both Europe and the United States where the establishment is being challenged. It is clearly happening here as well." The Sweden Democrats call for restricting immigration, are against allowing Turkey to join the EU and want a referendum on EU membership.

How radical is Europe's right? Norbert Hofer, Freedom Party (Austria) Norbert Hofer of Austria's nationalist Freedom Party lost the recent presidential runoff by a mere 30,000 votes, after being front-runner in the first round. Former Green party leader Alexander Van der Bellen won 50.3 percent of the vote, with Hofer gaining 49.7 percent. The Freedom Party's leader campaigns for the strengthening of the country's borders and limiting benefits for immigrants.

How radical is Europe's right? Marian Kotleba, People's Party - Our Slovakia The leader of the hard-right People's Party - Our Slovakia, Marian Kotleba, has said, "Even one immigrant is one too many." On another occasion, he called NATO a "criminal organization." This Slovak party favors leaving the EU as well as the eurozone. It won 8 percent of the vote in March 2016 elections, securing 14 seats in the country's 150-member parliament.



rs/kl (dpa, epd)