Leader of the UK Independence Party Nigel Farage has been criticized for suggesting that British women could be at risk of sex attacks from refugees if Britain votes to remain in the European Union (EU).

Farage, who campaigns for the Brexit, referred to an incident in the German city of Cologne that more than a hundred women were sexually assaulted and said the possibility of similar attacks in the UK would be “the nuclear bomb” of the EU referendum campaign.

Asked whether Cologne-link attacks could happen in Britain, the anti-immigration politician said "It depends if they get EU passports. It depends if we vote for Brexit or not. It is an issue."

Senior MPs have condemned Farage’s remarks as “scaremongering” and “inflammatory.” Fellow Brexit campaigners even tried to distance themselves from the remarks.

Labour MP David Lammy said the UKIP leader’s comments were “utterly repugnant and inflammatory” and “appalling dog whistle politics.”

The Labour Party’s deputy leader Tom Watson slammed the remarks and said, “I can see why the Leave campaign are trying to keep Nigel Farage in a box. It’s very lowest common denominator politics. I hope Nigel Farage can try and find it in himself to be a little bit more dignified.”

Tory MP and Brexit campaigner Andrea Leadsom condemned Farage’s remarks as “outright blatant scaremongering.” 

“I do not approve of that sort of campaigning…I haven't seen it and I wouldn't support suggesting if you vote to remain you'd be raped. Obviously that is just an outrageous thing to say,” she also said.

Justice Secretary Michael Gove, who is among leading Brexit figures, also distanced himself from the comments, saying, "He's made those remarks and I haven't made remarks like that and I won't make remarks like that."

On June 23, people in the UK will go to polls to vote in a referendum on whether to stay in the 28-member bloc.

Opinion polls have indicated that UK voters believe staying in the EU would be best for Britain's economy, but that support for leaving and remaining still remains at a virtual tie.