Overview
- Berlin police published firework and weapons/knife ban zones for Dec 31, 18:00 to Jan 1, 06:00, covering Alexanderplatz, Steinmetzkiez, parts of Sonnenallee and the newly added Admiralbrücke area.
- In the Brandenburger Tor event area all fireworks are prohibited by the organizer, with a broader weapons/knife ban spanning Tiergarten, parts of the Hansaviertel and the government quarter, and police plan visible enforcement without physical cordons.
- Friedrichshain‑Kreuzberg restricts private fireworks to a 13‑hour window from Dec 31, 18:00 to Jan 1, 07:00 with fines up to €50,000 for violations, and other districts including Pankow, Reinickendorf and Marzahn‑Hellersdorf set similar time limits.
- Customs report more than seven tonnes of illegal pyrotechnics seized in 2024 and advise buying only CE‑certified, BAM‑approved or VPI‑marked products, warning that importing non‑compliant fireworks is a criminal offense.
- Recent incidents and guidance underscore the risks, with Berlin police probing a Staaken balcony fire suspected to involve minors, ENT specialists warning of thousands of New Year ear injuries, and courts upholding prison sentences for severe cases involving illegal devices.