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Germany Weighs Local Fireworks Restrictions After Deadly New Year’s as Petitions Top 3 Million

The federal government rejects a blanket ban, with legislation planned to let states and cities define local rules.

Overview

  • At least one confirmed death involved a 17-year-old in Born, with severe injuries elsewhere including a hand amputation near Dessau and multiple children treated in Halle.
  • Berlin logged 1,830 fire and rescue deployments between 19:00 and 06:00, extinguished 643 fires, handled 971 medical calls, and reported 35 injured police officers as attacks on firefighters declined versus last year.
  • Police opened investigations into suspected deliberate use of pyrotechnics against people and officers, including cases in Sulingen, at Munich’s main station, and in Neuburg/Bruck where three people were hurt.
  • The police union’s petition for a nationwide private-fireworks ban surpassed three million signatures, and a separate coalition petition nearing one million is set for delivery to Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt.
  • Brandenburg backed Berlin’s push for local bans or designated pyro zones, with a federal draft to expand Länder and municipal powers under the explosives rules expected to require Bundesrat approval; cities also reported extensive cleanups, including 513 cubic meters collected in Berlin and around 60 tonnes anticipated in Dresden.