The Strasbourg anti-crime brigade seized 600 kg of fireworks mortars and firecrackers, the use and transport of which are prohibited by prefectural decree for “
security
”
reasons
, AFP learned on Friday.
It was while checking a van from the Czech Republic on the night of Thursday to Friday that the police discovered the fireworks.
"
46 boxes of fireworks which contained 1210 8-shot mortars, and 7395 F4 fuse firecrackers
" were seized, Major Yannick Pierrel, in charge of the property attack unit, told AFP.
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Two men aged 25 and 29 were arrested and will later be summoned to the criminal court, said the commander.
They face 5 years in prison and a 4,500 euros fine for unauthorized transfer of explosive products.
"This has already been used to attack police stations"
According to the General Directorate for Consumption and Fraud Control (DGCCRF), F4 firecrackers present a "
high danger
" and are intended to be used "
only by people with special knowledge
". The mortars seized, them, “
are projected quite far, make sprays and important detonations, they explode like mini-fireworks
”, specified Yannick Pierrel. "
It has already been used to attack police stations
."
Throughout the month of December, the sale, transport and use of "
fireworks
" are prohibited by prefectural decrees in the two Alsatian departments (Haut-Rhin, Bas-Rhin). Only fireworks for professional use remain authorized for persons with adequate approval. As in neighboring Germany, firecrackers and fireworks traditionally resonate with force on New Year's Eve in the region, regularly causing serious injuries and even deaths. On the last night of New Year's Eve, a 25-year-old man died "with
his head torn off
" by a firework mortar, in Boofzheim (Bas-Rhin), and several other people were injured in the department.
Certain fireworks are also diverted from their festive use and used against the police.
"
They contribute to the many damages and shootings that we suffer, on New Year's Eve in particular
", underlined Commander Pierrel.
“
And since October, we have seen an explosion in the number of mortars seized
”.
Monday, the Departmental Security of Bas-Rhin had already announced the arrest of a young man of 20 years and the seizure of more than 500 firecrackers and mortars F2 and F3, which he sold via Snapchat.