At the turn of the year, after two corona years in 2022, there was a bang everywhere again – in Berlin, however, the situation escalated.Image: dpa / Christophe Gateau
Germany
The new year came with a loud bang. Because after two Corona year turns without pyrotechnics, it was allowed to crack again in 2022. But the return of fireworks didn’t mean a good start to the new year for everyone. New Year’s Eve was marked by numerous accidents. Amputated fingers, hands, forearms. A youth from Saxony died in hospital from his injuries.
Police, fire brigade and rescue services had a lot to do on New Year’s Eve.Image: TNN / dpa / Julius Christian Schreiner
In many places it escalated: rescue workers were attacked. The fire brigade and police counted a total of 33 injured emergency services in Berlin. “We are appalled at what happened to us that night,” said Thomas Kirstein, spokesman for the Berlin fire department, summarizing the events at Watson’s request.
Berlin fire brigade comrades still have to process the operation
Although there had been attacks on emergency services and vehicles on previous New Year’s Eves, what was new this year was the aggressiveness and structured nature of the attacks. Kirstein elaborates:
“There were groups of perpetrators of up to 30 people who, masked, brought fire engines to a standstill or drove slowly through barricades. And then shot at the vehicles from an ambush with several firearms at the same time.”
These impressions also leave their mark on the comrades. As Kirstein reports, the experiences burdened and shocked the colleagues. In order to help the comrades in processing the night, there is an aftercare.
More than half of the firefighters deployed that night were volunteers, the other half came from the Berlin professional fire brigade. “So people are attacked who voluntarily do a service to society,” he clarifies.
Kirstein cannot explain why the situation escalated in such a way. The fire department was prepared. “We assumed that there would be more accidents and fires again,” he explains. And this fear was confirmed: Within eleven hours, the fire brigade extinguished as many fires as they normally do in a month.
Attacking emergency services can end up in jail
Federal Interior Minister Nancy Faeser (SPD) was stunned. She said: “The level of violence shows a brutalization that requires consistent action.” Anyone who attacks police officers and rescue workers “must be punished with the full force of the law,” explained Faeser.
Interior Minister Nancy Faeser is dismayed by the aggression towards the emergency services.Image: dpa / Kay Nietfeld
Comrade Dirk Wiese, the deputy chairman of the SPD parliamentary group in the Bundestag, put it in a similar way. Wiese explained to watson: “The attacks on rescue and police forces are despicable.” Now it is a matter of quickly identifying the perpetrators and punishing them severely. Wiese is not convinced of a general ban on firecrackers. From his point of view, no firecracker zones in certain parts of the city or an obligation to report fireworks make more sense.
Disrespect towards rescue services, fire brigades and police is increasing
Benjamin Strasser (FDP), State Secretary to the Federal Minister of Justice, is also against a comprehensive ban on firecrackers. Because that would unnecessarily punish the majority of peacefully celebrating people. However, the liberal was concerned about the disrespect for emergency services. Strasser explains to watson:
“Unfortunately, the phenomenon of violent attacks on emergency services and the police has been around for a long time and is not just limited to New Year’s Eve.”
The rule of law cannot tolerate such behavior. However, criminal law offers the possibility of prosecuting such criminal behavior.
Christine Aschenberg-Dugnus, parliamentary director of the FDP, also made it clear to watson: “Rescue workers must be consistently protected from aggressive criminals.” For this, criminal law must be applied comprehensively. However, a general ban on fireworks is not effective.
Christine Aschenberg-Dugnus makes it clear: the rule of law must be tough.Image: dpa / Annette Riedl
When asked by watson, FDP politician Ria Schröder, who is a lawyer herself, found clear words for the rioters: “Attacks against rescue and emergency services are the last resort and must be pursued with all the severity of the rule of law.” In addition, firecrackers would be an extreme burden for people, animals and the environment if people did not follow the rules. “If this happens frequently, the municipalities should impose isolated firecracker bans,” Schröder clarifies.
For Janosch Dahmen, the deputy group leader of the Greens, the previous laws are not sufficient. Instead, he calls for a tool kit for states and municipalities, with which they can do justice to the individual situation on site. For this evaluation, findings from previous years should also be included.
The rule of law should take full action
The Berlin member of the Bundestag Jan-Marco Luczak (CDU) proposes a compromise between the ban and legality of fireworks: The sale and firing of firecrackers should be banned, but rockets should remain allowed. “That’s a good middle way to protect animals and the environment while at the same time enabling customs to be maintained,” says Luczak.
Jan-Marco Luczak’s constituency is Berlin-Schoeneberg – the situation there has also escalated.Image: imago images / christian spicker
Rockets are built differently than firecrackers, the gases can only expand downwards. The rocket then hisses into the sky due to the pressure. Firecrackers, on the other hand, have several layers of paper wrapped around the black powder. They explode with a loud bang.
The CDU politician also calls for a clear and tough reaction from the rule of law. Luczak explains to watson:
“It is unacceptable that certain parts of our population do not recognize the state as an authority and are even hostile to it and its representatives.”
Luczak’s party friend, Thorsten Frei, sees little point in a general and nationwide ban on fireworks. When asked by watson, the parliamentary manager of the Union faction explained: “It would in no way prevent the violent excesses of chaotic people. And it would bully peacefully partying citizens.” Frei does not assume that a general ban on fireworks would stand up to the Basic Law – it would not meet the principle of proportionality.
From the point of view of the CDU man, it is more important that the cities and municipalities enforce existing fireworks bans in certain zones of the municipality. Irrespective of a ban on firecrackers, violence against the police and rescue workers must be punished with the full severity of the rule of law.
From Thorsten Frei’s point of view, a general ban on firecrackers violates the Basic Law.Image: imago images/ f.Kern/ Futureimages
free says:
“Severe prison sentences should have a deterrent effect for the future. We saw once again on New Year’s Eve where leniency and misunderstood tolerance lead.”
For at least 103 Berliners, the year should start with an ad. That’s how many people she has Capital police arrested on New Year’s Eve. Among them are 98 men and five women who were reported for arson, violations of the explosives law, breach of the peace and attacks on emergency services.
What they now face: possibly up to five years in prison. There has been a law since 2017 that establishes stricter criminal offenses for attacks on rescue and security forces.
From the point of view of the Berlin fire brigade, however, a ban on fireworks would help to make New Year’s Eve safer. Instead, Kirstein proposes orderly fireworks in central squares. The Governing Mayor of Berlin, Franziska Giffey (SPD), has already announced that she will put the expansion of no-gun zones on the agenda.
(With material from dpa)
Eighteen women sit in a circle. In turn, each of them lights a candle. The tiny flames light up the room. The warm light nestles against the faces marked by life. The “mother circle” has been meeting in the evangelical church “Am Friedrichshain” for forty years.
