In Germany – probably also because of the restrictions – the celebrations were largely calm and peaceful. In Leipzig, however, there were clashes, in Hennef a man died in an explosion.
Property damage occurred during protests in Leipzig on New Year’s Eve. In the east of the city there were massive attacks on the police, reports the Leipziger Volkszeitung. Burning shopping carts and fireworks can be seen in photos and videos. On Friday evening there was a peaceful event by Corona opponents on Augustusplatz. It should also have been quiet in the Connewitz district, but residents reported that there were many emergency services and that the streets were closed.
Shortly after midnight, the operations management received more reports, 80 incidents in the first hour alone. The police were represented in large numbers. It is still unclear who started the attacks and what motivation is behind them. Apparently, however, it was groups from left circles who had gathered despite the ban on dissolution. The situation was very confusing, also in terms of the number of injuries. Apparently police and firefighters were attacked.
Hennef: In the explosion of a firework in Hennef near Bonn, one man was killed and another was seriously injured. The two men, 37 and 39 years old, had celebrated New Year’s Eve with a group of ten. Shortly after midnight, according to witnesses, they had separated a little from the group. Suddenly there was a very loud bang and the two were seriously injured on the ground. The 37-year-old died despite attempts at resuscitation at the scene of the accident in the Hennef district of Hüchel; the 39-year-old was taken to a clinic with life-threatening injuries. A police spokesman suspected early Saturday morning that the fireworks could have been a self-made firecrackers. The criminal police started the investigation. “Bild” had previously reported on the accident.
Berlin: Several ambulances were called to Friedrichshagen on New Year’s Eve. Dorrt had injured a total of twelve people by a pyrotechnic explosion, reported the fire department, including several minors. They were immediately taken to clinics. The exact cause of the explosion has not yet been determined.
Bochum: While in the years before the pandemic the emergency call lines were no longer idle from midnight, the rescue control center recorded only twelve missions in the first hour of the new year. There were significantly fewer injuries from fireworks than on the usual New Year’s Eve. The first mission of the new year was reported to the control center at 12:17 am: a serious facial injury from a fireworks rocket.
Bremerhaven: The police officers positioned in the city had to identify and punish some administrative offenses, but the situation was largely calm. However, firecrackers were occasionally fired in the urban area.
Düsseldorf: According to information from “Bild”, firecrackers are said to have been thrown into a crowd during the night. Before that, many celebrants had gathered in the old town. The police were represented by many forces, especially on Burgplatz.
Frankfurt am Main: In the Hessian metropolis, parts of the banks of the Main were cordoned off for celebrations. The old bridge had to be closed by the police because too many people had gathered to celebrate. On Twitter, the police wrote under the hashtag # guude2022: “The numerous colleagues in the city area report: most of them celebrate peacefully in a small group. Keep it up, #Frankfurt!”
Munich: In the Bavarian capital, too, the police and fire brigade had a quieter night than in other years. The central rescue control center went back to normal operation at 1:06 a.m.
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