FREE now and never miss the top politics stories again. SUBSCRIBE Invalid email Sign up fornow and never miss the top politics stories again. We will use your email address only for sending you newsletters. Please see our Privacy Notice for details of your data protection rights.

Police in Düsseldorf arrested the 27-year-old man, who has not been named, after he started pleasuring himself in front of a young girl in the Düsselstrand swimming pool. The girl, who police described as being “under 14”, had dived into the pool when she noticed the man pulling down his trunks and masturbating.

www.baeder-dusseldorf.de An Afghan migrant was caught masturbating in front of a young girl

He then reportedly asked the girl: “Do you want to see more?” The girl immediately ran to her father who reported the man to the lifeguards. The migrant admitted the act to officers, who later released him.

Horrific axe attack on German train Tue, July 19, 2016 Three passengers have been seriously injured after a teenage refugee ran amok on a busy commuter train with an axe and a knife. Play slideshow EPA 1 of 10 Blood stains are seen on the regional train on which a man allegedly wielding an axe attacked passengers in Wuerzburg

Outrage amongst local residents was sparked when local media reports said that man had been immediately released by the police. A police spokeswoman said: "The man has a permanent residence in Dusseldorf so there is no escape danger. “If he had not had a place of residence, the man would almost certainly have been held in pre-trial detention."

www.baeder-duesseldorf.de Police released the Afghan migrant

Under paragraph 176 of the Criminal Code in Germany, sexual abuse of children is deemed to be sexual activity in front of a child which is punishable with a prison sentence of between three and five years. However if the man is charged under section 183 of the code, which refers to exhibitionism that causes public annoyance, which covers sexual acts in public the punishment is much less severe, carrying a sentence of up to one year or a fine. The Afghan man is now being investigated for sexual abuse of children and has been banned from using public swimming pools, according to a spokeswoman for the baths.

www.baeder-duesseldorf.de The Afghan migrant admitted to masturbating in front of a young girl