Massive New Year's Eve concerns: Police expect a “hot weekend” - also because of corona protests

Created: 12/31/2021, 7:07 PM

From: Christoph Klaucke

Berlin's Mayor Franziska Giffey (right) and Interior Senator Iris Spranger visit the police station on Alexanderplatz before New Year's Eve.

© Jörg Carstensen / dpa

There is always a risk of accidents from fireworks on New Year's Eve.

Another problem for the police could be corona protests around the New Year.

Munich / Berlin - On New Year's Eve, people usually enjoy firecrackers and rockets.

In times of the corona pandemic, things are different - lighting fireworks is sometimes prohibited or undesirable.

Nevertheless, fireworks are in circulation and are likely to lead to tragic accidents again at the turn of the year.

The police are already on the alert.

New Year's Eve disasters: Munich police expect "a hot weekend"

Because of New Year's Eve and possible protests by opponents of the Corona policy, police unions in Bavaria are expecting many missions at the weekend *. "New Year's Eve celebrations, the ban on firecrackers and the so-called walks will certainly be a challenge for our colleagues," said the state chairman of the police union in Bavaria, Peter Pytlik, on Friday in Munich. Expect a challenging weekend, but be “well prepared in terms of personnel”.

The state chairman of the German police union in Bavaria, Jürgen Köhnlein, told Bayerischer Rundfunk that "a hot weekend" is expected.

The officials particularly demanded the often unannounced protests by opponents of the Corona policy.

If many police officers were able to reduce overtime in the summer months, the union feared "an increase in the number of hours worked in the next few weeks," said Köhnlein.

New Year's Eve bang: Berlin Mayors Giffey recalls "war-like conditions"

Preparations for New Year's Eve are in full swing not only in Bavaria, but also in Berlin. From the point of view of Berlin's Governing Mayor Franziska Giffey (SPD), firecracking zones contribute to the protection of emergency services. "We also have to talk about pacifying certain areas in the city beyond the corona pandemic by not allowing gunfire there," said the politician on Friday.

Together with Berlin's new Interior Senator Iris Spranger (SPD), Giffey visited firefighters and police officers on New Year's Eve before their deployment.

The ban on the sale of fireworks and firework ban zones had an effect last year, according to Berlin's head of government.

Compared to earlier New Year's Eve, when there were "war-like conditions" in some places, a third fewer missions were recorded.

Giffey expected it to remain quieter in 2021/22.

According to Interior Senator Spranger, in addition to around 900 patrolmen, 1,600 additional officers are on duty in Berlin.

In the Netherlands, a twelve-year-old boy was killed in a New Year's Eve bang on Friday afternoon.