"We will do everything possible to keep the situation under control," said police operations chief Michael Temme, adding that officers will "take strong action against perpetrators of violence."
Some 3,500 officers will be on the streets to ward off any clashes as far-right activists and hard-line football fans gather.
The Cologne-chapter of the xenophobic PEGIDA movement has also called for a gathering on the same day.
- Police are expecting some 800 football hooligans to join the rally, but the number of far-right extremists could not be estimated.
"Sunday will be a difficult day, a difficult day for Cologne and for Cologne police," said the city's police chief Wolfgang Albers.
"I cannot rule out violent clashes."
At least 4,000 football hooligans and far-right extremists massed under the banner "Hooligans against Salafists" last year in a demonstration that turned violent.
Forty-four riot police were injured when protesters hurled rocks, bottles and firecrackers at them.
This time, the far-right militants are seeking to unite under the motto reminiscent of last year's slogan: "Cologne 2.0 – peaceful and violence-free against Islamist extremists".
Police had sought to get the event banned, but a court Wednesday ruled that a rally at a fixed location could take place rather than a protest march.
Tensions are running high in Germany as the country is expecting to host up to one million asylum seekers this year.
The surge in migrants has fueled xenophobia and crimes against refugee shelters including arson.
Security experts have been bracing for a rise in unrest, with domestic intelligence chief Hans-Georg Maassen warning in late September of a radicalization of right-wing groups and "a greater willingness to use violence" by all extremist groups.
AFP
dailystar.com.lb
23/10/15
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