GERMANY RAMPS UP SECURITY FOR NEW YEAR'S EVE AMIDST VIOLENCE CONCERNS
In anticipation of New Year's Eve festivities, Germany takes strict policing measures to prevent violence and better ensure public safety.
Taylor Brooks
- 2023-12-30
- Updated 03:30 PM ET
(NewsNibs) - Federal Interior Minister Nancy Faeser announced heightened security measures to tackle potential violence during the upcoming New Year's Eve celebrations. Recognizing a tense security situation, German police are poised to take strong action against any form of attack on law enforcement or the public. The Interior Minister referenced disturbances in previous years, particularly in Berlin's Neukölln district, where rioters’ fires challenged firefighters during the festivities.
BERLIN ENHANCES NEW YEAR'S EVE PRECAUTIONS
With a large-scale celebration planned near the Brandenburg Gate—the first since the COVID-19 pandemic, including a fireworks display—Berlin is bracing itself for significant New Year's Eve events. Berlin police will be buttressed by federal security corps, adding 500 officers to train station patrols. Berlin's Mayor Kai Wagner has issued warnings to potential troublemakers, stating the police force is better equipped than in previous years, with water cannons at their disposal if found legally permissible.
ADDITIONAL CITY MEASURES AND PUBLIC DEBATE
Similarly, the city of Cologne is ramping up security. In response to a terrorist threat, its landmark cathedral was closed on December 24th, with further reinforcements planned to secure New Year's celebrations. Amidst all preparations, Germany revisits the debate around the use of entertainment pyrotechnics. There are calls for a ban, citing injuries and fatalities from previous years, and reports of early detonations in violation of restricted purchasing periods and timeframes for setting off fireworks.
The Federal Chamber of Physicians' President, Klaus Reinhardt, has called for a complete prohibition on fireworks, going as far as suggesting that politicians experience New Year's Eve in ambulances or ERs to fully comprehend the dangers posed by fireworks. Reinhardt's stark perspective underscores the urgent discussions around the risks versus traditions as Germany prepares for the year-end festivities.
