The German government on Wednesday condemned a series of incidents on New Year’s Eve in which police and firefighters were attacked and injured, mainly by fireworks.
Across the country, revelers traditionally celebrate the New Year by setting off large numbers of fireworks in public places. But the latest celebrations were marred by fireworks being fired at rescue officials.
In Berlin, 30 police officers and a firefighter were injured during clashes or attacks during New Year’s Eveleading to 400 arrests, city officials said. Hundreds of police officers from across the country have been deployed to the capital to help prevent further violence.
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Five people were killed and hundreds injured across the country after being accidentally hit by fireworks, German news agency dpa reported.
The explosions of very powerful illegal fireworks in Berlin also caused significant damage in two districts of Berlin and injured many people, some seriously. According to the city’s firefighters, powerful explosions seriously damaged many facades of houses and broke many windows.
Thirty-six apartments are currently uninhabitable, dpa reported.
“The deployment of strong police forces from the states and the federal police as well as early and consistent repression are the right way against the perpetrators of violence and chaos,” said German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser.
“But the numerous arrests in Berlin alone and the new attacks on police officers also show that this crackdown was absolutely necessary.”
She wished all injured police officers a speedy recovery and promised that all perpetrators would be “pursued and punished with the greatest severity”.
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