GETTY FILE PICTURE The refugee admitted sexually assaulting a female staff member

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German officers said the 28-year-old man harassed the woman, 56, on Tuesday morning at a centre in Viechtach, Bavaria. He tried to kiss her against her will and grabbed her chest "several times", according to shocking reports. The migrant, who is Nigerian, only left her alone after a co-worker came to the woman's defence.

He is understood to have been living at the accommodation for more than a year. The man – who has not been named – was briefly arrested by police and admitted carrying out the attack. But according to local media, he was soon released and has been since moved to different accommodation.

GETTY Angela Merkel opened Germany’s doors to 800,000 migrants in 2015

Angela Merkel in pictures Tue, August 8, 2017 Angela Merkel has served as German Chancellor since 2005 and Leader of the Christian Democratic Union since 2000. We take a look at her political career in pictures. Play slideshow AFP/Getty Images 1 of 83 Angela Merkel through the years

German Chancellor Angela Merkel sparked outrage after opening the country's doors to at least 800,000 migrants in 2015. The influx led to a spike in sex attacks. In the worst worrying case, hundreds of women reported being sexually assaulted by migrants in Cologne on New Year's Eve 2015.

GETTY Wolfgang Schaeuble admitted the open-door policy was a mistake