Overview
- Berlin will deploy about 4,300 officers on New Year’s Eve, enlarge pyrotechnics ban areas such as Alexanderplatz and Sonnenallee, and roll out roughly 3,000 bodycams to police and firefighters.
- Police report pre‑holiday seizures of about 147,000 illegal fireworks in Berlin, and federal border officers intercepted prohibited pyrotechnics from Poland.
- Municipal restrictions broaden across the country, including no‑fireworks zones in Bremen’s city center, historic districts like Neustadt’s old town, and designated squares in Kassel, with violations drawing fines up to €5,000.
- Retail sales began on December 29 with brisk demand and expectations of higher volumes than last year despite hospital warnings about severe injuries and appeals from animal‑welfare groups.
- Nationwide rules still permit adults to use approved F1/F2 fireworks on December 31 and January 1 as the interior ministry examines potential rule changes short of a full ban, and a recent poll found roughly 60% support ending private fireworks.