The New Year's Eve celebrations in Berlin were marked by a significant number of police and emergency interventions, with authorities responding to more than 2,300 incidents across the city between the evening and early morning hours. The Berlin police reported that, between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m., an average of nearly 200 calls per hour required their attention, demonstrating the scale of challenges faced during the festivities.

According to official summaries, law enforcement initiated around 800 investigations related to various criminal and regulatory violations. The majority of cases involved breaches of weapons and explosives legislation. Additionally, officers dealt with incidents such as assaults on police personnel, acts of resistance, arson, bodily harm, and public order offenses.

Approximately 430 individuals were detained as part of operations connected to the New Year's events. Among these, 14 were held to prevent further offenses, and seven were presented before a judge for the issuance of arrest warrants.

Notable Incidents Across the City

One of the most severe occurrences took place around 10 p.m. in the Mitte district, where unidentified individuals fired shots from a bridge at a passenger vessel. This attack resulted in one person being injured and caused damage to the ship's glass windows. The suspects managed to flee the scene and remain at large.

Other firearm-related events included a report from Kreuzberg, where a driver discovered a bullet hole in the roof of his car after hearing a loud impact. Fortunately, no injuries were reported in this instance. Investigations into both cases are ongoing, with authorities closely monitoring potential links and developments.

Police officers faced direct confrontations in several parts of Berlin. In Kreuzberg, a group of roughly 150 people targeted police units with bottles and fireworks near Mehringdamm and Gneisenaustraße shortly after midnight. The situation was brought under control after authorities intervened and detained two individuals.

Attacks on Emergency Services

Emergency responders were repeatedly targeted with pyrotechnics and other projectiles. In Moabit, an initial attack on a police vehicle escalated as the crowd grew to approximately 500 individuals, making it temporarily impossible for firefighters to intervene due to the intensity of the assaults. Law enforcement employed water cannons to manage the situation and extinguish fires ignited in the area.

Another significant incident occurred in Spandau, where a tipped-over battery of fireworks ignited a stockpile of pyrotechnics. This triggered the detonation of a large firework, which shattered the front windows of a retail store and set the interior ablaze. Quick action from a bystander with a fire extinguisher prevented the fire from spreading further. A young girl suffered a minor hand injury due to falling debris but did not require medical attention.

Elsewhere, police vehicles were damaged by thrown fireworks and stones. On Potsdamer Straße in Tiergarten, a police car was hit by pyrotechnics and rendered inoperable, though the officers inside were unharmed. The perpetrator escaped the area before authorities could detain them.

Additional Reports and Arrests

Further disturbances were documented in Mariendorf, where witnesses heard a loud explosion and observed two individuals fleeing a scene where a nail salon's windows and entryway had been destroyed. Police detained a 16-year-old in connection with this act of vandalism, who was released after identification procedures. Fortunately, no injuries were reported in this incident.

The Berlin police also reported the apprehension of a drone operator in Moabit. The suspect was taken into custody for violating aviation regulations after flying a drone in restricted airspace during the celebrations. The drone was confiscated, and legal proceedings have been initiated.

Impact on Emergency Personnel

In total, 35 police officers suffered injuries throughout the night, with two requiring hospitalization. Most injuries resulted from fireworks or projectiles directed at emergency services. The high volume of cases and the nature of the offenses have prompted renewed calls for stricter enforcement of fireworks regulations and expanded exclusion zones for pyrotechnics during major celebrations.

City authorities continue to analyze the events of New Year's Eve to improve public safety measures for future celebrations and to address the ongoing challenges posed by aggressive behavior and illegal use of fireworks.