Emergency services remained busy throughout the night and into Wednesday morning due to Germany’s New Year celebrations.
Police and fire services across the country reported at least four fatal injuries the next morning that appeared to be linked to the explosions.
In several cities, emergency services were pelted with stones by pyrotechnicians – a recurring trend in recent years. A Berlin officer was seriously injured and required surgery.
The capital’s university hospital said it was treating eight people with serious arm injuries and that “the night is still young” shortly after midnight. It later updated the figure to 15.
More than 300 arrests in Berlin
Berlin police issued an update early Wednesday, praising the implementation of new no-fireworks zones in the city center — but still reporting widespread issues outside those areas.
“We had to make about 320 arrests, in many cases both rescue workers and police came under fire [from pyrotechnics]Berlin police spokesman Florian Nath said in a video posted online. Berlin police were shielding firefighters in the city for their own safety, a move police said helped.
“We also have a seriously injured police officer who appears to have been hit by illegal fireworks,” Nath said. He said emergency surgery was performed on him overnight.
Cologne police said two officers were injured by illegal fireworks and shots were fired at officers and firefighters. A group of about 50 people attacked emergency services in Leipzig. Similar reports and photographs emerged from Hamburg and elsewhere.
Massive fire in warehouse in Newwide, wood burnt to ashes
Firefighters across the country were working to tackle small fires – in trash cans, homes, cars, garages and other items found near sidewalks.
However, in Neuwied, a small town in western Germany, police suspect that fireworks caused a warehouse fire, which took serious shape before it was reported just before 1 a.m.
“A big warehouse was found at the spot, which was completely burnt to ashes along with wood and other things.” Neuwied/Rhine police said in a statementIt said affected locals were evacuated from nearby homes by emergency services and the fire was brought under control.
“Fire extinguishing operations are underway,” police said in an update around 6 a.m. “Nearby buildings have also been damaged due to the extreme heat.” He estimated the cost to be in the “mid six-figure range”.
“This fire may have been caused by New Year’s fireworks,” police said, hours after a similar fire broke out in the city centre. The investigation is ongoing.
Police, medical professionals and firefighters have more than once recommended a ban on fireworks, or at least imposed some restrictions on large-scale New Year’s Eve fireworks in Germany in recent years. The practice was halted for two years amid COVID-19, although public gatherings were then limited.
msh/sms (AFP, dpa)