Today's Edition
Berlin (dpa)
A total of 363 people were injured by fireworks in Berlin during New Year celebrations, fuelling the debate about a possible ban on the pyrotechnics in Germany.
Of those injured, 52 were hospitalised, according to Health Senator Ina Czyborra of the capital's Committee for Health and Care. One person suffered severe facial burns after a rocket exploded directly in front of them, while a child suffered life-threatening injuries from the detonation of a so-called firework "bombs."
These spherical explosive are not authorised for general use in the country and are mainly used in large-scale professional fireworks displays.
Other people suffered severe hearing damage and eye injuries, including permanent loss of sight or hearing.
According to Czyborra, there were also 23 recorded cases in which carers and doctors were physically or verbally attacked by patients during the festivities.
It is not just Berlin, however. Every January, across Germany, there are debates about injuries, deaths, arrests and property damage from New Year's Eve fireworks.
At least five people were killed in fireworks-related accidents and police arrested hundreds across the country as the nation rang in 2025.
More than 1 million people in Germany have now joined a petition for a nationwide ban on fireworks initiated by the German Police Union (GdP) in Berlin.
However, Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Interior Minister Nancy Faeser have both already spoken out against a ban.
