Germany: Two 18-year-olds die using homemade fireworks
Two 18-year-old youths died in Bielefeld, western Germany, on New Year’s Eve after setting off homemade fireworks, local police reported.
Authorities stated that the young men had constructed the pyrotechnic devices themselves and triggered them uncontrollably in different locations, sustaining fatal injuries to the face. Early investigations indicated no third-party involvement, and prosecutors have opened inquiries to determine the exact circumstances of the deaths.
The incidents were part of a broader pattern of fireworks-related accidents across Germany during the New Year celebrations. In Berlin, over 30 people were seriously injured, with some requiring amputations of fingers or parts of the hand. Hospitals also reported burns and facial and eye injuries. Around 400 people were briefly detained in Berlin, and at least 24 police officers among the 4,300 deployed were injured.
In Hamburg, police reported that ten officers were hurt during interventions related to fireworks incidents, highlighting the risks of uncontrolled pyrotechnics during public celebrations.
