German government condemns New Year's violence after hundreds of arrests

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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