New Year’s Eve in Germany: police are pelted with fireworks by hundreds. Parliamentary elections in Pakistan: former Prime Minister Khan rejected

The new year was also welcomed in our northern neighbor. Millions of people celebrated peacefully and exuberantly, but there were also serious incidents on New Year’s Eve. An 18-year-old died in Koblenz when a firecracker exploded. Especially in Berlin, the police had to carry out numerous operations before midnight; The emergency services in particular were concerned about New Year’s Eve.

Berlin’s ruling mayor, Kai Wegner, announced on Sunday evening that he would take tough action against the riots. “Today is the night, if necessary, the night of repression in which the rule of law will try to assert itself,” the CDU politician said during a visit to a police station in Berlin-Neukölln. On New Year’s Eve a year ago, there were riots and attacks on police and rescue workers across the country, with Berlin particularly affected.

Firecrackers, Molotov cocktails, arrests

Hours before midnight, an incident took place near Alexanderplatz in Berlin-Mitte, involving hundreds of people. According to police, fireworks were thrown by a group of about 500 people. The police dispersed the group at the Neptunus Fountain and checked for fireworks, the police reported on the online platform report.

In Neukölln, police caught several people making eleven Molotov cocktails from gasoline and glass bottles. Nine suspects were arrested on Monday evening. A police spokeswoman said more than 100 people across the city were temporarily arrested for dangerous fireworks or other offenses until shortly before midnight.

More suspects in custody after terror alert in Cologne

Due to the suspected planned terrorist attack on the Cologne Cathedral, the security forces there were particularly vigilant. The police chief said at a press conference on Sunday that the allegedly planned attack was intended to be carried out with a car. The Tajik, who was arrested on Christmas Eve, turned out to be part of a larger network. North Rhine-Westphalia’s Interior Minister Herbert Reul (CDU) said the approximately 1,000 police officers deployed around the cathedral on New Year’s Eve did everything they could to ensure the safety of the revelers. Police had received information about a planned Islamic attack on Cologne Cathedral on New Year’s Eve. Cardinal Rainer Maria Woelki then celebrated the well-attended New Year’s Eve Mass in the evening under heavy police protection. According to police reports, it initially remained quiet around the cathedral in the evening.

Restraint in flood areas

For many people in the flood areas, the New Year’s Eve party literally did not take place this time. The Interior Minister of the hard-hit state of Lower Saxony, Daniela Behrens, called for cautious use of fireworks on New Year’s Eve due to the tense flood situation. The fire and rescue services are busy enough, said the SPD politician in Verden.

Serious accidents involving private fireworks

Despite all warnings, serious accidents involving fireworks occurred again. In one case in Koblenz it even turned out fatal: An 18-year-old was killed on Sunday evening when he set off fireworks, police said. Despite resuscitation, the young man died as a result of the explosion. The investigation into the circumstances was still ongoing. The police initially did not want to provide any further information about the incident in the Rübenach district. The police once again called for caution when handling fireworks.

Berlin police said a 40-year-old lost a hand when he fired a signal rocket in the Kaulsdorf district. Immediately after ignition, the rocket exploded in his hand. During a search of his home, more fireworks were found on him and confiscated.

After years of Corona break, there are fireworks again in Berlin

In front of the Brandenburg Gate in the capital, tens of thousands of people celebrated the New Year at the traditional New Year’s Eve party. There were fireworks for the first time since the corona pandemic. About 45,000 visitors came to the ZDF New Year’s Eve party, despite occasional rain and strict security measures. According to organizers, the festival mile between the Brandenburg Gate and the Victory Column was designed for 65,000 people. ZDF broadcast the party live again as a show called “Welcome 2024”. Ayliva, Luca Hänni and Roy Bianco & The Abbrunzati Boys created the atmosphere.

Only on January 1st, the whole world. at 1 p.m. in the new year

It takes a total of 26 hours for the entire world to ring in the new year. American Samoa, located just 140 miles east of Samoa on the other side of the International Date Line, will be the last country – twelve hours after Germany. At 1:00 PM CET on January 1, only two uninhabited islands will follow. (sda/dpa)