New Year Celebrations in Germany: One Death and 330 Arrests
The German police arrested around 330 individuals during New Year’s Eve celebrations in the
streets of Berlin, mainly due to the hazardous use of fireworks, as reported by the police on
Wednesday. Officials described the night as a security success despite the arrests.
According to the police, most of the arrests were related to violations of laws concerning the use of
fireworks or weapons. It’s worth noting that fireworks are banned in certain streets in Berlin, and
they can only be ignited on New Year’s Eve from 6:00 PM until 7:00 AM the next morning (local
time). Violators face fines up to 1,000 Euros.
During the night, 13 police officers were injured, and one required surgery after likely being hit
by unauthorized fireworks, as stated by the police. Approximately 4,000 police officers were
deployed either in patrol cars or on the streets to secure the celebrations in the capital.
A police spokesperson also shared in a video on “X” that there were no significant acts of violence,
and the police protected firefighters during operations.
On another note, a 24-year-old man tragically lost his life due to injuries sustained while handling
fireworks in the German town of Giesecke. According to a police spokesperson, the incident
occurred just before the new year began, and preliminary investigations suggest that the
explosion force indicates the fireworks were unauthorized.
Emergency services and the police were alerted to the incident at 10:40 PM on Tuesday.
Initial reports indicate there was a family New Year’s celebration in the outskirts of the town,
where some of the party guests discharged fireworks, leading to the explosion. No other
individuals were injured in the incident, and criminal police have started investigations.
This year’s New Year’s Eve in Germany was marked by both celebration and caution, emphasizing
the need for adherence to safety regulations around fireworks to prevent such unfortunate
incidents.
