International
Five Killed in Germany New Year Fireworks Accidents
- Five fatalities and multiple injuries reported during New Year’s Eve fireworks incidents across Germany.
- Over 330 arrests in Berlin, with emergency workers targeted during celebrations.
- Renewed calls for a nationwide ban on private fireworks sales amid safety and environmental concerns.
Five people lost their lives, and numerous emergency workers were injured as fireworks-related incidents overshadowed New Year’s Eve celebrations across Germany.
Eko Hot Blog reports that despite growing calls for a nationwide ban on private fireworks, these displays remain a popular tradition, often turning city streets into chaotic scenes.
Among the deceased were two individuals in Saxony, including a 45-year-old man killed while handling a “firework bomb,” local broadcaster MDR reported.
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In Berlin, emergency services faced 1,892 incidents, 294 more than the previous year, with 13 reported attacks on first responders.
A police officer in the capital was severely injured, reportedly struck by an illegal firework, and is currently undergoing surgery.
In Munich, a stray firework caused a significant apartment fire, while three children—ages 2, 11, and 14—suffered severe injuries from mishandled pyrotechnics.
The 14-year-old lost parts of his hand, highlighting the dangers of unregulated fireworks.
Firefighters and police officers were targeted by fireworks in multiple cities. Berlin police detained 330 people, and officials condemned the attacks.
“It is unacceptable that those serving the public good are targets of violence,” said Christine Behle, deputy chairwoman of the first responders’ union.
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Interior Minister Nancy Faeser praised emergency services’ efforts and emphasized the importance of strict enforcement, stating that the arrests and preventive measures in Berlin were necessary to curb violence and chaos.
German pyrotechnics association BVPK pointed to illegal and homemade fireworks as the primary culprits behind severe injuries, distancing these from legal, regulated products.
Environmental organization Deutsche Umwelthilfe renewed its demand for a nationwide ban on private fireworks, citing the night as a “horror” for many people.
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