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In a series of tragic accidents tied to the fireworks commonly used to ring in the New Year, five people lost their lives across Germany, and a police officer sustained serious injuries, according to initial reports from local authorities.
Fireworks have long been a significant part of New Year’s celebrations in Germany, but their use has sparked ongoing discussions about potentially banning the most powerful devices due to the high injury rates, as well as the environmental and noise pollution they cause.
This year, 13 law enforcement officers were injured during these accidents, including one officer who was seriously hurt, said police spokesperson Florian Nath.
In Berlin, approximately 330 individuals were detained overnight, though authorities noted that, unlike in previous years, there were no major incidents of violence.
In the northwest town of Paderborn, located in North Rhine-Westphalia, a 24-year-old man tragically died after setting off a pyrotechnic rocket. Local police suspect that the victim may have made the device himself.
Meanwhile, in Oschatz, Saxony, a 45-year-old man succumbed to fatal head injuries after igniting a powerful pyrotechnic bomb. Authorities revealed that it was an F4 category firework, which requires a special permit to purchase.
In another incident in Hartha, also in Saxony, a 50-year-old man died instantly from head injuries while attempting to detonate a pyrotechnic pipe bomb.
A 20-year-old man from the Hamburg area died after attempting to light a pyrotechnic firework, while a fifth fatality occurred in Kremen, near Berlin, due to improper handling of fireworks. Three others in the region were seriously injured under similar circumstances.
