Status: 01.01.2024, 10:46 a.m.
CommentsPrint Share
Fireworks are set off on Wanheimer Strasse, police vehicles are on standby. © Christoph Reichwein/dpa
After massive attacks against emergency services a year ago, the police in North Rhine-Westphalia massively increased their presence on New Year's Eve 2023/24. Nevertheless, there were attacks against officials.
Cologne/Duisburg - Despite many police operations, New Year's Eve in several major cities in North Rhine-Westphalia was mostly mild, according to initial findings of the police. In a preliminary assessment by the state control center, there was talk of a "New Year's Eve typical night" in the morning around 8:20 a.m.
In Cologne, a spokesman said that many officers had been on duty. There were no outstanding events. In Düsseldorf, for example, the city centre on the banks of the Rhine was initially very well filled around midnight. After about 20 minutes, however, it emptied quickly, said a spokesman early in the morning. In Essen, according to a spokeswoman, it was "mostly peaceful". In Dortmund, too, New Year's Eve passed "without major incidents," according to the police. However, four youths threw New Year's Eve firecrackers at a sleeping homeless man. He was slightly injured. The youths were charged with dangerous bodily harm.
On several occasions, police authorities reported pyrotechnics that were ignited in the direction of emergency services. A major operation took place in Solingen, where firefighters and police were attacked with rockets and firecrackers. Uninvolved passers-by were also pelted. The police assume that there are 30 to 40 offenders who initially remained unknown. More than 60 police officers were deployed.
There were also attacks on police and fire brigades in Duisburg. Two people were arrested and charged with dangerous bodily harm.
In Bielefeld, forces of the public order office and the police were pelted with pyrotechnics. One man was taken into custody. In Münster, unknown persons from a group set off a firecracker and a rocket against a police car. According to the police, there was no damage.
After numerous attacks with firecrackers and rockets on police officers and rescue workers on New Year's Eve 2022/23, the number of emergency services had been increased. According to the Ministry of the Interior, more than 2023 police officers should be deployed nationwide at the turn of the year 24/6600.
After a terror warning, the turn of the year was celebrated at Cologne Cathedral under high security measures. For the most part, everything went smoothly. "A few firecracker throwers, some arrests, nothing out of the ordinary," a police spokesman said early Monday morning around 1:30 a.m. Most of the revelers would also have adhered to the ban on firecrackers in parts of Cologne's city center. On the Domplatte and the station forecourt, it was largely peaceful.
On Sunday evening, the police had declared that three more suspects had been arrested - in Duisburg, Herne and in Nörvenich in the district of Düren. Homes were also searched there. An attack was to be carried out with a car, said Cologne police chief Johannes Hermanns. It turned out that the Tajik, who had already been taken into custody on Christmas Eve, was part of a larger network that also extended to other federal states and other European states.
My news
Mother of three was probably killed: Police release new details on missing person case reading
How long bakeries in North Rhine-Westphalia are allowed to open on New Year's Eve and New Year's Dayread
Read 6 excursion destinations in NRW around New Year's Eve and New Year's Day
Luise (12) killed: Freudenberg shocked by wave of hatred – families of the perpetrators leave their place of residenceRead
Body on balcony: suspect caught and arrestedread
Massive attacks on police and fire brigade in Solingenlesen
Shortly before Christmas, the police had received indications of a possible Islamist attack plan on Cologne Cathedral, which referred to New Year's Eve. The 30-year-old Tajik was then taken into custody on Christmas Eve in Wesel "to avert danger". Dpa