Chaos for New Year's Eve in Germany: 5 dead and attacks on rescue workers

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In Germany, five people were killed on New Year's Eve and dozens of emergency services were injured when a number of incidents with fireworks overshadowed the celebrations at the turn of the year.

fireworks accidents and injuries

Despite the demands for a nationwide ban on private use of fireworks, they are still an important part of the New Year's Eve in Germany. Every year thousands of pyrotechnics are ignited in the streets of the cities. According to the public service broadcast MDR, two people died in the eastern state of Saxony, including a 45-year-old man who was killed after he had dealt with a fireworks referred to as a "fireworks bomb".

attacks on rescue workers

During the festivities in the night from Tuesday to Wednesday, firefighters and other rescue workers were attacked by fireworks, as the authorities reported. In Berlin, the fire brigade reacted to 1,892 missions on New Year's Eve - 294 more than in the previous year, the city's fire brigade said. Over 1,500 emergency services were on duty and reported at least 13 attacks on emergency services.

arrests and injured police officers

According to the police spokesman Florian Nath, 330 people were arrested in the capital on New Year's Eve. A policeman was seriously injured after he was "probably hit by an illegal fireworks" and is now in an operation in the hospital. Nath commented on the incidents: "Several people who were at the scene of the crime attacked the police officers, which is one of the low points of that night."

fires from fireworks

In the meantime, the Munich fire brigade announced that an uncontrolled fireworks had lit a huge balcony fire on the first floor of a residential building. The fire spread to an apartment on the second floor. It was particularly worrying that “particularly serious” injuries from pyrotechnics were recorded in Munich this year. Three children aged two, eleven and 14 years suffered serious injuries in the city's incidents. The two-year-old boy and the eleven-year-old boy had suffered burns on the hands, neck and face, while the 14-year-old separated young parts of his hand through a New Year's Eve. Everyone had to be brought to hospitals for further medical treatment.

call for the ban on rockets

In an explanation on X, the German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser praised the work of the emergency services and emphasized that the "use of strong police forces from the federal states and the federal police as well as early and consistent procedure are the right remedies against violent perpetrators and chaots". She added: "However, the many arrests in Berlin and the new attacks on police officers show that this procedure was absolutely necessary."

opinion of the emergency services

The union of the first aiders published an explanation on Wednesday in which they condemned violence against emergency services. Christine Behle, deputy chairwoman of ver.di, said: "It is unacceptable that people who work for the common good are always the goal of attacks. Under no circumstances should violence against public service workers."

Danger from illegal fireworks

The BVPK, a German association for pyrotechnics, commented concerns about illegal and self -made fireworks. "These extremely dangerous handicrafts have nothing to do with legal and certified New Year's Eve fireworks from specialty shops or discounters," said board member Ingo Schubert. "Anyone who confuses the dangerous tinkering and illegal handling of dangerous explosives with safe, small fireworks bodies compares apples with pears."

request for a nationwide prohibition

The German Environmental Aid renewed its demands for a nationwide ban on the private sale of pyrotechnics on New Year's Eve and warned that the turn of the year could again become "on a night of horror for countless people".