Overview
- Berlin police and a fire chief describe rockets and firecrackers increasingly used as weapons, recalling a 2024 case in which a Kugelbombe blast severely wounded an officer.
- Authorities highlight firework‑free zones and bag checks on designated streets in the capital, after last year’s Berlin operation saw roughly 4,000 officers deployed, 37 injured and about 400 detentions.
- The Moritzburg state stud shutters stalls, plays music and distributes carrots while staff rotate through the night, and Salzburg Zoo brings sensitive species indoors to reduce stress without sedation.
- Customs and emergency services urge buyers to use only CE‑marked, registered products and report seizing nearly a tonne of illegal pyrotechnics last year, warning of fines up to €50,000 or prison under explosives law.
- Veterinarians advise keeping pets indoors with a dark retreat, closing shutters, using background sound and leashes for necessary walks, noting hundreds of lost animals were registered over last New Year’s.