Overview
- Police named Alexanderplatz, Steinmetzkiez, parts of Sonnenallee, the Admiralbrücke area, and the broader Tiergarten–government quarter around the Brandenburg Gate as prohibition zones from Dec. 31, 18:00 to Jan. 1, 06:00.
- The Brandenburg Gate event organizer, Kulturprojekte Berlin GmbH, has barred all fireworks within the central event area, with security staff conducting checks.
- Officers will actively enforce the bans in the designated areas, and unlike prior years the zones will not be marked with physical barriers.
- Customs officials report continued inflows and large seizures of illegal, high‑power fireworks lacking CE certification, as authorities recall severe past injuries from devices such as ‘Kugelbomben.’
- Investigations continue into multiple Christmas Eve fires, including a million‑euro farm blaze in Breitenberg, a fatal house fire in Thalheim, a life‑threatening Berlin‑Halensee case, and a reported balcony fire in Berlin‑Staaken linked to youths throwing fireworks.