New Year's Eve celebrations in Berlin were marred by widespread violence and chaos, leading to over 400 arrests. The illegal use of fireworks as weapons targeted emergency services, including police officers and firefighters, resulting in numerous injuries.
A seven-year-old boy required emergency surgery for life-threatening injuries after a firework explosion, and other children were also among the casualties. Hospitals reported treating dozens of individuals for severe firework-related wounds, with some medics describing the injuries as akin to "war wounds." Mobs reportedly bombarded first responders, and significant property damage, including a bus fire, was also reported.
German police mobilized a large force of 4,300 officers and 1,600 firefighters to manage the disorder, launching 670 criminal investigations primarily related to dangerous pyrotechnic use, assaults, and arson. Authorities confiscated over 220,000 illicit fireworks in Berlin alone, acknowledging the night as a "low point" despite preventative measures.
Nationally, five men died due to exploding fireworks, and numerous others suffered severe injuries, including lost limbs. Investigations into the source of the banned pyrotechnics and the circumstances of the most serious injuries are ongoing, with calls for stricter fireworks regulations intensifying.