Calls for Fireworks Ban Grow After Violent New Year's Incidents

A majority of Germans support banning private fireworks as officials debate safety measures following over 1,500 crimes during the latest New Year's celebrations.

A new survey reveals 58% of Germans favor a nationwide ban on private fireworks, with support strongest among women and Green Party voters.
The recent New Year's celebrations saw over 1,500 firework-related crimes in Berlin, including assaults on emergency responders and illegal use of dangerous explosives.
Berlin officials, including SPD's Raed Saleh, advocate for stricter regulations and faster legal consequences for offenders, citing a rise in societal 'brutalization.'
Local authorities in Viernheim, Hesse, have already implemented a fireworks ban in parts of the city following safety concerns and incidents from previous years.
A petition for a nationwide fireworks ban has gathered over 1.9 million signatures, but federal leaders, including Chancellor Olaf Scholz, remain opposed to a blanket prohibition.