More than a million Germans in favor of banning fireworks on New Year’s Eve – rts.ch

Initiated by the Berlin division of the police union Gewerkschaft der Polizei, the petition for “a national ban on fireworks” had collected more than 1.4 million signatures online on Monday.

It was handed over to the Ministry of the Interior in the morning.

Dozens injured and five deaths

The police officers were “targeted with all kinds of fireworks, freely available in stores. This must end”, believes the union which is calling for “a solution which comes into force quickly so as to no longer talk about dozens of injured next year.

Five people died accidentally on New Year’s Eve in Germany while lighting powerful fireworks and around 400 people were arrested in Berlin.

In total, 30 law enforcement officers were injured, including one seriously, who required surgery. The latter was hit by an illegally manufactured firework, according to a spokesperson.

Arrest and damage

The Germans celebrate the New Year with a particularly intense use of fireworks set off by individuals, some illegal or homemade, fueling a debate each year on the banning of the most powerful pyrotechnic devices.

Berlin police announced on Saturday the arrest of a 23-year-old man suspected of having thrown a pyrotechnic rocket towards an apartment window in the Neukölln district, which then burst into flames.

The video of this Palestinian influencer, arrested at the airport “while trying to leave the country”, according to the police, sparked many outraged comments on social networks.

Less than two months before the legislative elections in Germany, the government of Social Democrat Olaf Scholz said it was not in favor of a general ban on pyrotechnic devices, with the Minister of the Interior favoring more sanctions. “hard” and specific prohibited areas.

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