Police say Berlin marks New Year’s Eve with much less violence than a 12 months in the past regardless of detention of 390

BERLIN — Authorities in Berlin stated Monday that New Year’s Eve celebrations in the German capital have been extra peaceable in comparison with final 12 months regardless of the momentary detention of 390 individuals and 54 cops being injured.

Police stated many have been detained for violating the Weapons and Explosives Act, both utilizing unlawful firecrackers or firing them off at officers or different individuals

Some 4,500 officers patrolled town at night time to forestall a repeat of the 2022 New Year’s Eve riots. It was the strongest police presence Berlin witnessed in many years.

On Sunday night time, police banned the usage of conventional firecrackers throughout town.

Both town’s mayor and Germany’s inside minister had vowed a zero-tolerance technique towards rioters, notably any attempting to assault officers.

“It turned out that the many months of preparation by police and firefighters … have paid off,” Berlin‘s top security official Iris Spanger wrote on social media platform X, formerly Twitter. She condemned “every single act of violence,” saying that “every injured colleague is one too many.”

German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser, in a statement, thanked the officers deployed. She it was clear that increased police presence coupled with “an early crackdown” comprised “the right strategy against riots and violence.”

A year ago, Berlin witnessed violent excesses during New Year’s celebrations, through which rioters focused and attacked officers, firefighters and medical personnel with fireworks, inflicting an uproar throughout the nation. Online movies on the time confirmed individuals firing rockets and throwing firecrackers at police automobiles and rescue autos which drew widespread condemnation from German authorities.