Status: 01.01.2024, 00:57
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The fireworks at the turn of the year rise behind the Brandenburg Gate. © Sebastian Christoph Gollnow/dpa
In Berlin, the mayor announces a "night of repression" if necessary. Even before midnight, the police intervene several times. A tragic incident occurs in Koblenz.
Berlin - All over Germany, people have welcomed the New Year. Millions celebrated peacefully and exuberantly - but already on New Year's Eve there were also serious incidents. In Koblenz, an 18-year-old died when a firecracker exploded. In Berlin in particular, the police had to deploy to numerous operations before midnight, and the emergency services had been particularly tense about the turn of the year.
Numerous people celebrate the turn of the year in Sankt Pauli above the Landungsbrücken at the port of Hamburg. © Christel Köster/dpa-Zentralbild/dpa
"Tonight is the night, if necessary, the night of repression, where the rule of law will try to enforce itself," said the CDU politician during a visit to a police station in Berlin's Neukölln district. On New Year's Eve a year ago, there were riots and attacks on police and rescue workers nationwide, with Berlin particularly affected.
Firecrackers, Molotov cocktails, arrests
Hours before midnight, there was an incident near Alexanderplatz in Berlin-Mitte with hundreds of people involved. According to the police, firecrackers were thrown from a group of around 500 people. The police had dispersed the group at the Neptune Fountain and checked for fireworks, the police said on the online platform X (formerly Twitter). "From a group of about 200 people, who were at the town hall passages, our forces were shot at with pyro," it continued.
Sydney welcomes the New Year with a gigantic fireworks display. © Dan Himbrechts/AAP/dpa
In Neukölln, police officers caught several people building eleven Molotov cocktails out of gasoline and glass bottles. Nine suspects were arrested, it was said on Monday night. Throughout the city, more than 100 people were provisionally arrested until shortly before midnight for dangerous fireworks or other violations, said a police spokeswoman.
More suspects in custody after Cologne terror alert
Because of the allegedly planned terrorist attack at 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 to be carried out with a car. It turned out that the Tajik, who had already been taken into custody on Christmas Eve, was part of a larger network. North Rhine-Westphalia's Interior Minister Herbert Reul (CDU) said that the approximately 1000,<> police officers deployed around the cathedral on New Year's Eve were doing everything they could to ensure the safety of the revelers. The police had received indications of a planned Islamist attack on Cologne Cathedral, which referred to New Year's Eve. Under massive police protection, Cardinal Rainer Maria Woelki then celebrated the well-attended New Year's Eve Mass in the evening. According to police, it remained quiet around the cathedral in the evening.
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Restraint in flood areas
For many people in the flood areas, the New Year's Eve party literally fell into the water this time. The Minister of the Interior of the hard-hit state of Lower Saxony, Daniela Behrens, called for restraint with New Year's Eve fireworks because of the tense flood situation. The fire brigades and rescue services are busy enough, said the SPD politician in Verden.
Australia, China, South Korea have already 2024
In large parts of the world, 2024 began hours before midnight in Germany. In Sydney, a mega light show lit up the sky at 14pm CET against the world-famous backdrop of the Harbour Bridge and Opera House. By the time of the German evening, it was already the year 2024 in Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Taiwan, China, India and Dubai.
Serious accidents involving private fireworks
Despite all the warnings, there were also serious accidents involving fireworks. In Koblenz, this even ended fatally in one case: An 18-year-old died on Sunday evening while igniting a firecracker, according to the police. Despite resuscitation, the young man died as a result of the explosion. The investigation into the circumstances was ongoing. The police initially did not want to give any further information about the incident in the Rübenach district. The police once again called for careful handling of fireworks.
Fireworks are set off in front of the skyline of Frankfurt. © Jörg Halisch/dpa
The Berlin police said that a 40-year-old had lost a hand when igniting a signal rocket in the Kaulsdorf district. Immediately after ignition, the rocket exploded in his hand. During a search, further pyrotechnics were found and confiscated from him.
After years of Corona break, high-altitude fireworks in Berlin again
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. For the first time since the Corona pandemic, there were fireworks displays. About 45,000 visitors came to the ZDF New Year's Eve party despite intermittent rain and high security precautions. According to the 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 provided the atmosphere.
Tens of thousands on the streets of Hamburg and Frankfurt
In Hamburg, tens of thousands of people also started the new year 2024 with big fireworks and partying. People crowded together at the Landungsbrücken, for example, followed the New Year's Eve fireworks. Around 8000,10 visitors had come there alone, as a police spokesman said shortly after midnight. There are 000,15 to 000,<> people on the Reeperbahn, but more are still pouring in. There was also a celebration in downtown Frankfurt - peacefully for the time being, according to the police. Of course, firecrackers and rockets were also fired into crowds again, said a police spokesman early Monday morning. The officials had taken consistent action against this.
Whole globe only on January 1 at 1 p.m. in the new year
In total, it takes 26 hours for the whole globe to slip into the new year. American Samoa, which lies just 220 kilometers east of Samoa on the other side of the International Date Line, will be the last country - twelve hours after Germany. At 13:00 CET on 1 January, only two uninhabited islands will follow. Dpa