Berlin Sees New Year’s Eve Marred by Violence and Chaos
In the German capital, Berlin, the traditional New Year’s Eve celebrations turned violent, with numerous fires, injuries, and arrests reported. According to the Berlin Police, 330 people were detained, and 13 officers were injured, with one in a critical condition.
The severe injury to a police officer occurred around 1 a.m. in the Prenzlauer Berg district, when officers were allegedly targeted with firework projectiles from a violent crowd. The officer suffered a serious leg injury and was taken to the hospital for emergency surgery.
At least eight others with fireworks-related injuries were admitted to the Berlin University Hospital, with the number likely to rise as the night wore on.
Multiple fires broke out in various neighborhoods, including Lichtenberg, where four apartments were completely destroyed, and Kreuzberg. The fire department, with over 1,500 personnel, was deployed throughout the night, and there were temporary disruptions to the emergency services hotline, 112, in Berlin.
The most spectacular fire occurred in the Kreuzberg district, where a multi-story parking garage, with all the cars parked on it, was completely engulfed in flames. Earlier in the evening, five cars in a nearby underground garage had also caught fire, with investigations underway for suspected arson in both cases.
The night was also complicated for the fire department due to a water main break in the Wedding district, leaving thousands of households in the area and surrounding neighborhoods without water for several hours.