The New Year’s Eve was marked by disturbances and incidents in several European countries, including Belgium, Germany, and France. In Belgium, cities experienced unrest; in Brussels, 159 people were arrested, trams and buses were damaged, and 60 to 70 cars were set on fire.
Firefighters and police were attacked with stones and Molotov cocktails, resulting in four injuries. In Antwerp, 49 arrests were made for public disorder.
In Germany, five fatalities were reported due to fireworks accidents, with additional injuries in various cities. Berlin saw 330 arrests primarily for illegal fireworks, while significant damage was caused by firework bombs in Schöneberg, leaving 36 apartments uninhabitable.
In France, minor riots and injuries were reported, including a two-year-old injured by fireworks in Lyon. Strasbourg saw 60 cars set on fire and 44 arrests.
Overall, 90,000 police officers were deployed across France to manage the situation.
Source: NOS