New Year's Eve: Police and fire brigade before large-scale operation

Created: 12/31/2021Updated: 12/31/2021, 5:59 PM

Iris Spranger (l) and Franziska Giffey (both SPD) visit the police station on Alexanderplatz on the occasion of the upcoming New Year's Eve.

© Joerg Carstensen / dpa

Watching fireworks in the crowd or igniting them yourself, firing in large groups and toasting 2022 - that is legally not possible again.

This New Year's Eve is also marked by the corona pandemic.

This is a particular challenge for the police and fire brigade.

Berlin - Regardless of corona-related restrictions, the police and fire brigade are preparing for a challenging New Year's Eve.

Police President Barbara Slowik emphasized on the RBB Inforadio that fireworks bans in a total of 56 zones and corona-related collection bans should be enforced.

Another focus is on unannounced demonstrations against corona measures.

Around 1,600 additional police officers are on duty in the capital on New Year's Eve, a total of around 2,500.

In the past few weeks you have been able to gain experience with so-called walks, said the police chief.

“Through constant presence and a very consistent approach, we were able to keep this absolutely within limits and have not had to see any serious violent riots so far.

I'm not afraid of that tonight either, ”said Slowik.

Unlike last year, there is no general ban on gatherings, explained police spokesman Thilo Cablitz.

According to him, around 60 to 70 people responded to a call on Friday afternoon and protested in Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg on Moritzplatz against the corona measures.

According to the police, a car parade also remained undisturbed.

A demonstration by opponents of the corona measures was registered at Alexanderplatz for the late evening.

According to the Senate's corona protective measures, assemblies and fireworks are prohibited in 53 locations in Berlin, including Potsdamer Platz, Kottbusser Tor and Breitscheidplatz.

There are also three no-pyro zones, in which it is forbidden to bring fireworks.

These include Alexanderplatz as well as the areas around Schöneberger Pallasstrasse and the Moabit prison.

Based on the experience of the past few years, the police officers know where things could get particularly critical - around Hermannplatz, for example.

“We'll be more present there,” said Slowik.

The later the evening gets, the more flexibly the emergency services have to react to focal points.

As in the previous year, no fireworks may be sold nationwide.

The aim is to relieve emergency services and hospitals that are already working at their limit during the corona crisis.

Police spokesman Cablitz expected that illegally imported fireworks would be ignited on Berlin's streets.

Unfortunately, based on the experience of the past few years, one has to assume this.

In the afternoon, however, he initially spoke of a "very quiet street scene". However, Cablitz assumed that this would change in the course of the evening. New Year's Eve is always demanding for the emergency services. "In the shadow of the pandemic, it is all the more demanding," said the spokesman. As in previous years, the fire brigade wanted to declare a state of emergency on New Year's Eve in the evening. According to their information, a total of almost 1,400 workers are to be deployed.

State fire director Karsten Homrighausen expected less bang and party and referred to the experiences of the past year.

"Nevertheless, especially in the core time of the night, there were 800 missions, ie a large number of missions that we also had to accept via the emergency call at the same time," said Homrighausen of the "Berliner Morgenpost" (Friday).

In the accident hospital in Berlin, a team of emergency doctors as well as accident and hand surgeons prepared for an increased number of patients on New Year's Eve, as a spokeswoman said.

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At the Brandenburg Gate, where Germany's largest New Year's Eve party usually takes place, the ZDF is again holding its New Year's Eve show.

The artists perform live in front of a historical backdrop - but without an audience.

Instead of a fireworks display, there should be a fireworks display on the stage.

The area was cordoned off over a large area, onlookers had little chance of getting near the area.

According to the German Weather Service, it could also be quite uncomfortable at night: Strong wind gusts and rain are expected in unusually mild temperatures.

dpa