- In Leipzig, a 16-year-old girl lost part of two fingers while attempting to light illegal fireworks.
- In Berlin, five people were admitted to hospital with fireworks injuries by late evening on New Year’s Eve, two of them seriously injured.
Germany marked a comparatively calmer New Year’s Eve than in recent years, though celebrations were overshadowed by deadly fireworks-related incidents and attacks on emergency services in several cities, police said on Thursday, dw.com reports.
Two 18-year-old men were killed in separate accidents involving homemade fireworks in the western German city of Bielefeld, in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia. Police said both victims suffered fatal facial injuries after igniting the devices themselves.
One teenager died at the scene in the Baumheide district, while the other was critically injured in the Brake district and later died in hospital despite resuscitation efforts.
Authorities said there were witnesses in both cases and no initial indications of third-party involvement. Investigations are ongoing, and police have not yet disclosed the type of fireworks used.
Elsewhere in Germany, several serious fireworks-related injuries were reported. Near Rostock in northeastern Germany, a 23-year-old man lost his left hand when a firecracker exploded.
In Leipzig, a 16-year-old girl lost part of two fingers while attempting to light illegal fireworks.
In Berlin, five people were admitted to hospital with fireworks injuries by late evening on New Year’s Eve, two of them seriously injured.
While overall celebrations were described as calmer than in previous years, incidents of violence against police and emergency responders were reported in multiple cities.
In Berlin, more than 400 people were temporarily detained, and 21 police officers sustained minor injuries after being targeted with firecrackers and rockets.
At least 10 officers were injured in Hamburg, while similar attacks were reported in Bonn, Bremen and Leipzig.
Firefighters responded to numerous blazes believed to have been caused by fireworks, including rubbish bin fires in Leipzig and several roof fires in North Rhine-Westphalia.
In Erfurt, a fire broke out on the roof of a historic building near the city’s cathedral and spread to neighboring houses, with authorities saying a firework was the likely cause.
Germany permits private use of fireworks alongside organized public displays, a practice that continues to spark debate amid recurring safety concerns each New Year’s Eve.
