Overview
- A 12-year-old from Potsdam was flown to Unfallkrankenhaus Berlin in critical condition after lighting an orange-sized object that exploded, with hospital officials saying all signs point to a prohibited Kugelbombe.
- Doctors reported severe injuries to the boy’s abdomen, pelvis, face, and hands, noting one thumb could not be saved, while police said a 13-year-old companion was unharmed.
- FAZ reports that two 18-year-olds died in Bielefeld on New Year’s Eve, with one case involving multiple fireworks in a pipe and another reportedly a Kugelbombe.
- Berlin’s police union (GdP) called for a ban on private pyrotechnics and tougher consequences, saying officers face barrages of rockets and bangers and that current enforcement often fails to bring offenders to court.
- Commentary argues local prohibition zones have proved insufficient and urges federal action, as polls show majority support for restrictions and a petition has drawn roughly three million signatures.