Hundreds were arrested in Germany after New Year’s fireworks turned into violence – 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 recent celebrations were marred by the use of fireworks against emergency officials.

In Berlin, 30 police officers and firefighters were injured in confrontations or attacks during New Year’s EveCity officials said this led to the arrest of 400 people. Hundreds of police officers from across the country were deployed to the capital to help prevent further violence.

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Five people died and hundreds were injured across the country after being accidentally exposed to fireworks, the German news agency reported.

Extremely powerful and illegal fireworks explosions in Berlin also caused severe damage in two Berlin neighborhoods and injured several people, some seriously. According to the city’s fire department, the powerful explosions caused severe damage to many house facades and shattered many windows.

The German News Agency reported that 36 apartments are currently uninhabitable.

German Interior Minister Nancy Weiser said: “Deploying strong police forces from the federal states and the federal police and carrying out an early and sustained crackdown is the correct means against the perpetrators of violence and chaos.”

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

She wished a speedy recovery to all injured officers, and pledged to prosecute and punish all perpetrators with the utmost severity.