Following the sexual assaults on women at the main railway station in Cologne and in other German cities on New Year’s Eve where groups of men have surrounded, groped and robbed women(in Munich women have reportedly been harassed in front of a disco), the sales of pepper spray (mace) and other self-defence articles in Germany exploded, although the sales have been rising throughout the year, Welt.de reports. Sales have doubled during the last year, following the terrorist attacks in Paris, but the current demand is causing shortages in wholesaler supply.

The use of pepper spray on humans is illegal in Germany. It is sold as a mean to prevent attacks from aggressive animals.