Authorities reported on Wednesday that five people were killed and a police officer seriously injured in firework-related accidents across Germany during the New Year celebrations.

The incidents highlight the risks associated with the country’s tradition of setting off powerful fireworks to celebrate New Year’s Eve.

Police reported that the most tragic incidents included the death of a 24-year-old man in Paderborn, North Rhine-Westphalia, who was killed after setting off a homemade pyrotechnic rocket.

In Oschatz, Saxony, a 45-year-old man died from head injuries after igniting a “pyrotechnic bomb,” while a 50-year-old man in Hartha died from similar wounds when trying to detonate a pipe bomb.

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In Hamburg, a 20-year-old man died while lighting a pyrotechnic firework, and a fifth man near Berlin died from improper handling of fireworks. Three others in the area were seriously injured in similar incidents.

Fireworks remain a contentious issue in Germany, with annual debates over the safety, noise, and pollution they cause. In addition to the fatalities, police reported 30 injuries among law enforcement, including one officer seriously hurt by an illegal firework.

Despite some 400 arrests in Berlin, authorities noted that there were no major incidents or violence, unlike previous years.

Crediblenewsng.com