GETTY A 26-year-old Iraqi has been arrested on suspicion of sexually assaulting two teenage girls

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.

The attack is the latest in a string of sexual assaults involving migrants in the country. Police arrested a 26-year-old man from Iraq on suspicion of sexually assaulting two 17-year-old girls at a pool in Untertürkheim, Stuttgart. The man is said to have sexually harassed several girls, including two 17-year-olds. A lifeguard had watched the suspects approaching several girls, including the two 17-year-olds in the whirlpool.

Police arrested a 26-year-old man from Iraq on suspicion of sexually assaulting two 17-year-old girls at a pool

He is said to have approached them and then touched them inappropriately several times on the buttocks and thighs. The man has been released on bail and Stuttgart Police are appealing for witnesses. Lifeguards at swimming pools across the region are on high alert following a spate of attacks. Similar incidents took place at an outdoor pool Kirchheim and other outdoor pools in Stuttgart.

GETTY Lifeguards at pools across the region are on high alert following a spate of attacks

DPA Signs have been printed at some pools warning people not to touch swimmers

German newspaper Stuttgart Zeitung said girls as young as ten-years-old were attacked at a pool in July by a gang of migrants. When police attempted to ban a 17-year-old migrant from the pool a riot erupted. A gang of 30 swimmers stood up to police protecting the migrant. A spokesman for the Interior Ministry said despite cases being reported “there is a high dark number, not everything is reported.”

GETTY Many have blamed the assaults on Angela Merkel's open door immigration policy

More than 3,000 incidents ranging from insults to sexual harassment were reported in 2015 with a further 5,500 sex attacks including rape, sexual abuse and coercion being reported to police. Officials say 89 of these attacks took place in swimming pools. Reports of horrific sex attacks have gripped Germany with many blaming the assaults on Angela Merkel’s open door immigration policy.

Cologne: Sex Attacks and Robberies Tue, January 12, 2016 Thirty-one suspects, including 18 asylum seekers, are under investigation over offences including sexual assault and theft in Cologne on New Year's Eve. Far right protestors in Lepzig have rallied against refugees and German chancellor Angela Merkel. Play slideshow Reuters•Getty 1 of 22 Protestors in Lepzig rally after over 100 women were sexually assualted on New Year's Eve