The New Year’s Eve of 2025/2026 once again exposed the realities of Europe’s multicultural societies. In countries such as Germany, France, and Belgium, the celebrations escalated into violent riots — with burning cars, attacks on emergency services, and mass arrests. It has become an annual ritual of destruction that has little to do with New Year’s Eve itself.
Source: Report24.news, Chris Veber, January 02, 2026, NIUS January 01, 2602
In Germany, the unrest began shortly after midnight. In Berlin alone, police arrested more than 420 individuals, mostly for using dangerous pyrotechnics and assaulting officers. Between 30 and 35 officers were injured after groups targeted them with rockets and firecrackers. In Hamburg, ten emergency workers were hurt, while in Leipzig and other cities, firecrackers were thrown at rescue crews. In Bielefeld, two 18-year-olds were killed by homemade explosives, and dozens suffered severe injuries, including amputations. The perpetrators were predominantly young men, often moving in groups and deliberately causing riots.
Across all cases, young men made up the clear majority of both those arrested and the attackers — a pattern long observed. What politicians and mainstream media rarely acknowledge, critics argue, is the migration background of these young men, many of whom are Muslim and, in some cases, asylum seekers.
Despite surveys showing that 74% of Germans do not set off private fireworks and 65% call for a ban (due to injuries, litter and environmental pollution), fireworks sales are booming like never before!
People have been storming the shops since 29 December: In Bavaria, shoppers waited from 1 a.m., in Bremerhaven, customers carried out 40 boxes – and one individual spent over £1,600! An 18-year-old spent £250 and said, ‘It would be a shame to ban them, it’s a wonderful moment.’ The industry is delighted with record sales: already 197 million euros at the turn of the year 2024/2025 – and 2025 is likely to see even more. The association speaks of a longing for community and tradition.
But: Customs warns against illegal fireworks (over 7 tonnes confiscated), and critics warn of risks. Tradition prevails – or is it time for a rethink?
In response, left-wing and Green Party politicians are now calling for stricter firework bans. Yet even in Berlin, where extended no-firework zones were already in place, police recorded hundreds of arrests and attacks. Critics compare this to knife-free zones that fail to prevent stabbings, arguing that the problem lies not in fireworks but in the behavior of those using them.
They contend that many of the perpetrators bring with them social norms shaped by conflict-ridden environments — places where disputes are often resolved through violence rather than dialogue or rule of law. As a result, imported patterns of aggression are increasingly visible on Western European streets.
According to these critics, governments have opened borders without ensuring that newcomers share core societal values. By tolerating parallel communities where violence is normalized, they warn, European cities now face conditions reminiscent of civil unrest. Unless the root causes are addressed — through measures such as repatriation policies, stricter border controls, and zero tolerance for violence — burning streets and widespread fear may become the defining features of Western Europe’s future.
During the 2025/2026 New Year’s celebrations, Germany once again saw numerous attacks on police, firefighters, and emergency services. At least two people died in firework-related accidents, and dozens were seriously injured, including many children.
The night ended tragically in Bielefeld, where two 18-year-olds were killed in separate incidents after homemade fireworks exploded. Both reportedly suffered fatal facial injuries, according to police, who ruled out foul play.
In Lohne, Lower Saxony, a five-year-old boy died following a traffic accident shortly after midnight. According to police reports, the child ran into the street from a sidewalk and was struck by a car driven by a 47-year-old man. He was airlifted to hospital but succumbed to his injuries a few hours later.
In Reddelich near Rostock, a 14-year-old boy lost his left hand when a firecracker exploded. He was taken to hospital with severe injuries. In Leipzig, a 16-year-old girl suffered serious hand injuries after lighting an illegal firecracker not approved for use in Germany.
In Wiesbaden, a 23-year-old man was fatally stabbed shortly after midnight in the city center. Police said the attack followed a “physical altercation between several people.” Two 22-year-old suspects were arrested.
In Baden-Württemberg, three people died in multiple fires, according to the state’s Interior Ministry. The incidents occurred in Bonndorf and Lenzkirch in the Black Forest, as well as in Giengen an der Brenz. In Bernstadt, a major fire broke out, keeping 90 firefighters busy for several hours as they battled the flames.
Berlin’s Unfallkrankenhaus Marzahn hospital treated 25 patients with severe hand injuries, including partial or complete amputations of fingers or hands. Many also suffered burns and facial or eye damage. “The most tragic part is that eight of the victims are children whose lives will be permanently changed by these injuries,” hospital officials said, adding that more cases were expected as many revelers were still unaware of their injuries while intoxicated.
Widespread attacks on emergency services in Berlin
In Berlin, around 4,300 police officers were deployed — roughly 3,300 more than on a typical night. Despite the increased presence, officers and firefighters came under repeated fire from fireworks and rockets, especially in Neukölln, Moabit, and other high-risk districts.
Between 21 and 24 officers sustained minor injuries, mostly from blast trauma. Police made more than 400 arrests, primarily for violations of explosives regulations. Large quantities of illegal fireworks, including dangerous F4-grade shells, were seized. Fires were also reported in several neighborhoods.
Fourteen individuals were taken into preventive custody to stop further offenses, while prosecutors sought seven arrest warrants for charges that included serious bodily harm.
Despite the incidents, Berlin police issued a cautiously positive assessment: “We had no serious injuries among officers or civilians, and fewer incidents and property damage than last year,” said police spokesman Florian Nath. Prior to New Year’s Eve, Berlin’s mayor, Kai Wegner (CDU), had warned, “The fun ends when people are attacked.”
Incidents across Germany
Similar attacks on emergency crews were reported in Hamburg and Leipzig. In Hamburg, ten police officers were injured. In Leipzig’s Connewitz district, officers set up barricades and reported firecracker attacks and blazes in the city center. Fire departments across the country responded to numerous fires.
In Frankfurt, police intervened at several locations, including the Zeil and the station district, after reports of clashes and illegal fireworks. Officers arrested several individuals and were repeatedly targeted with pyrotechnics, according to the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung.
By contrast, major official celebrations remained peaceful. Thousands gathered in good spirits at Berlin’s Brandenburg Gate for a large-scale light show, while roughly 10,000 people attended the central celebration in Munich. “There were no incidents at all,” said Katrin Strauch of the event agency Gral.
New Year’s Eve escalations across Europe
The situation in France was even more extreme. Across the country, 984 cars were set on fire — a destructive custom that has become almost traditional in the banlieues. The Interior Ministry reported 420 arrests, with 310 people placed in custody. Police and firefighters came under constant attack as entire streets went up in flames.
Belgium saw similar scenes. In Brussels, rioters targeted police and firefighters with fireworks; authorities detained up to 104 people, many under 20 years old. Vehicles were set ablaze and emergency cars damaged, echoing incidents from previous years.
In the Netherlands, where private fireworks were allowed for the last time this New Year’s Eve, widespread riots erupted. Police officers were attacked in multiple cities — in Breda with Molotov cocktails and paving stones, and in Amsterdam amid extensive unrest that also saw a church set ablaze.
In Strasbourg, near the German border, violence and arson marked the night as well. Across the city, 101 vehicles were torched and 25 police officers injured. One apartment was completely destroyed by fire.
In Switzerland, a massive explosion claimed several lives in the ski resort of Crans-Montana. Police reported an “explosion of unknown origin” shortly after midnight that left multiple people dead or seriously injured. Authorities initially counted at least ten fatalities. Later reports indicated that around 40 victims — most of them minors — had been identified, 116 injured and police were investigating possible failures by the nightclub (Le Constellation) owner.
On 3 January 2026, the Valais authorities initiated criminal proceedings against the two bar operators. They are suspected of negligent homicide, negligent bodily harm and negligent arson. Until a final conviction is handed down, both are presumed innocent.
