Free Republic

LOWELL -- A 22-year-old Syrian refugee is behind bars after only two months in the United States after he was accused Thursday night of inappropriately touching a 13-year-old girl at a state-run swimming pool in Lowell. In Lowell District Court on Friday, Emad Hasso, of Lowell, was ordered held on $25,000 cash bail after pleading not guilty via an interpreter to one count of indecent assault and battery on someone under 16. Judge Stacy Fortes set the bail over the defense attorney's objections, because Hasso's only ties to this country are his family members with whom he lives.

18 Cologne attack suspects ID'd as asylum-seekers; police chief fired Greg Botelho-Profile-Image By Michael Pearson, Greg Botelho and Carolin Schmid, CNN Updated 12:10 PM ET, Fri January 8, 2016 Berlin (CNN)German authorities have identified 31 people, including 18 asylum-seekers, as suspects in mob sex attacks and muggings in Cologne on New Year's Eve -- one of several such incidents in Europe. In Cologne, where most of the attacks took place, a police spokesman confirmed Chief Wolfgang Albers was fired Friday. Albers' dismissal comes amid criticism of his department's handling of the violence. One victim of the Cologne violence told CNN...