Hundreds arrested in Germany after New Year’s fireworks turn violent – National

The German government on Wednesday condemned a series of incidents on New Year’s Eve in which police officers and firefighters were attacked and injured, mostly with fireworks.

Revelers across the country traditionally ring in the new year by setting off large numbers of fireworks in public places. But the last celebrations were spoiled by the use of fireworks against emergency officials.

In Berlin, 30 police officers and one firefighter were injured during confrontations or attacks New Year’s Eveleading to 400 arrests, said city officials. Hundreds of police officers from all over the country were deployed to the capital to 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.

Explosions of very strong, illegal fireworks in Berlin also caused extensive damage in two Berlin neighborhoods and injured many people, some of them seriously. According to the city’s fire department, powerful detonations severely damaged numerous house facades and broke many windows.

Thirty-six apartments are currently uninhabitable, reports dpa.

“The deployment of strong police forces of the federal states and the federal police and an early and consistent attack are the right means against perpetrators of violence and chaos,” said German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser.

“However, the many arrests in Berlin alone and the renewed attacks on police officers also show that this repression was absolutely necessary.”

She wished all the injured officers a speedy recovery and promised that all the perpetrators will be “prosecuted and punished with the utmost severity.”