A German rail operator has introduced women-only carriages to some of its train carriages but denied the move is a response to the recent spate of high-profile sex attacks.

The move, which comes days after the first suspect of the Cologne sex attacks was charged with a sex crime, has been widely reported as being linked to sex crimes that have been blamed on migrants by far-right activists.

However, the company introducing the changes, Mitteldeutsche Regiobahn, has denied the new carriages are linked to the Cologne attacks.

It said the measures were intended to encourage a safer atmosphere for all female travellers in general.

Children, including boys up to the age of ten, will also be allowed to ride in the carriages, which run on the 50-mile Leipzig to Chemnitz line.

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The carriage will be situated next to an office for train staff.

“The local proximity to the customer service representative is chosen deliberately,” a Mitteldeutsche Regiobahn spokesman said.

Women-only carriages are used frequently in countries such as Japan, India, Mexico, Brazil, Egypt and Indonesia in an attempt to prevent sexual assaults.

In the UK, the Labour Party leader, Jeremy Corbyn, suggested women-only areas on public transport could be used to reduce sexual harassment.

However, his suggestions were accused by women’s rights groups of being regressive.

They said the focus of tackling sexual harassment should be on the perpetrators rather than potential victims.

Germany reacts to Cologne New Year's Eve attacks Show all 13 1 /13 Germany reacts to Cologne New Year's Eve attacks Germany reacts to Cologne New Year's Eve attacks Women protest against sexism outside Cologne Cathedral on 5 January after the assaults Oliver Berg/EPA Germany reacts to Cologne New Year's Eve attacks Women protest against sexism in Cologne following the rash of sex attacks on New Year's Eve Wolfgang Rattay/Reuters Germany reacts to Cologne New Year's Eve attacks Police initially failed to mention the assaults in report the following morning EPA Germany reacts to Cologne New Year's Eve attacks Police officers patrol in front of the main station of Cologne, Germany AP Germany reacts to Cologne New Year's Eve attacks German far-right supporters demonstrate at Cologne`s train station (Reuters) Reuters Germany reacts to Cologne New Year's Eve attacks Supporters of anti-immigration right-wing movement Pegida in Cologne, Germany, January 9, 2016. Reuters Germany reacts to Cologne New Year's Eve attacks Police used pepper spray to control supporters of Pegida, Hogesa (Hooligans against Salafists) and other right-wing populist groups as they protested against the New Year's Eve sex attacks on 9 January, 2016 in Cologne, Germany Reuters Germany reacts to Cologne New Year's Eve attacks Police use a water cannon during a protest march by supporters of anti-immigration right-wing movement Pegida in Cologne, Germany, January 9, 2016 Reuters Germany reacts to Cologne New Year's Eve attacks Police use pepper spray against supporters of anti-immigration right-wing movement Pegida, in Cologne, Germany, January 9, 2016. Reuters Germany reacts to Cologne New Year's Eve attacks Artist Mira Moiré protests naked in Cologne against the mass sex attacks on New Year's Eve AP Germany reacts to Cologne New Year's Eve attacks A demonstrator holds a sign in German that reads 'No violence against women' during a demonstration in the wake of the sexual assaults on New Year's Eve, outside the cathedeal in Cologne, Germany, 09 January 2016. EPA Germany reacts to Cologne New Year's Eve attacks Counter demonstrators hold up a sign reading "Against sexism, against racism" as they protest against a demonstration of the islamophobic movement PEGIDA at the train station in Cologne, Germany, on January 9, 2016. AFP/Getty Images Germany reacts to Cologne New Year's Eve attacks Demonstration by a women’s group on Saturday (AP) AP

On Thursday, a 26-year-old Algerian man was charged with sexual assault and theft in relation to the incidents in Cologne.

He is the first person to be formally accused of being involved on the disorder on New Year’s Eve in the West German city.

More than 1,100 criminal complaints were received in relation to the events New Year’s Eve in Cologne, including over 480 accusations of sexual assault.