German government condemns New Year's violence after hundreds of arrests.
Police officers stand guard on the street after fireworks for New Year's celebrations in Berlin,
Police officers put out street fires after New Year's fireworks in Berlin.
Fireworks light up the sky above the Brandenburg Gate during New Year's Eve celebrations shortly after midnight in Berlin,
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Police officers stand guard on the street after fireworks during New Year's Eve celebrations in Berlin, Germany,
BERLIN (AP) — The German government on Wednesday condemned a series of New Year's Eve incidents in which police officers and firefighters were attacked and injured, mostly with fireworks.
Revelers across the country traditionally celebrate the New Year by setting off large fireworks displays in public places. But recent celebrations have been marred by the use of fireworks against emergency workers.
In Berlin, 30 police officers and a firefighter were injured in clashes or attacks on New Year's Eve, leading to 400 arrests, city authorities said. Hundreds of police officers from across the country were deployed to the capital to help prevent further violence. Five people were killed and hundreds injured across the country after being accidentally hit by fireworks, the German news agency dpa reported.
The explosions of very powerful and illegal fireworks in Berlin also caused significant damage to two districts of the city and injured several people, some seriously. According to the city's fire department, the powerful explosions damaged many house facades and broke many windows.
Thirty-six apartments are currently uninhabitable, dpa reported.
"The deployment of strong state and federal police forces, as well as early and persistent repression are the right tools against the perpetrators of violence and chaos," said German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser. "However, the numerous arrests in Berlin and the new attacks on police officers also show that this crackdown was absolutely necessary." She wished a speedy recovery to all the injured police officers and promised that all perpetrators would be "pursued and punished with the utmost severity."
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