German police urge caution as firework sales set to begin

Police in Germany are urging the public to take care as firework sales begin ahead of New Year's Eve, a time of celebration also often marred by accidents.

Firecrackers for New Year's Eve may be sold starting Monday and online retailers may deliver any ordered ahead on the last three working days of the year.

"People are becoming increasingly reckless and using legal items such as firecrackers and rockets improperly," Jochen Kopelke, chairman of the GdP police union, told dpa.

Officials issue such warnings annually, and lawmakers also weigh banning firecrackers every year due to serious incidents. Currently, many are concerned about ball bombs, which are not approved for general use due to their high explosive power.

Five men died in firecracker accidents last New Year's Eve and there were also attacks on emergency services.

The GdP called for more firework bans and protection zones in cities, saying such measures would make the celebrations safer and reduce the number of attacks.

The police and customs authorities have been seizing illegal pyrotechnics. Berlin police reported that they had seized huge quantities of illegal firecrackers, rockets, ball bombs and other fireworks earlier in the month.

Customs authorities warn that some products offered in neighbouring countries or online do not meet German safety standards. Pyrotechnics were also seized during checks at the border with other European countries.

Not everyone is a fan

While many in Germany celebrate the turn of the year by setting off fireworks and firecrackers, critics include animal welfare and environmental groups. Wild animals, including birds are frightened and use up energy reserves that they need to get through the winter.

In cities such as Berlin, New Year’s Eve celebrations are frequently compared to scenes from a war zone. And environmentalists point to the debris generated by fireworks and to the waste of resources.

But the interior ministers of the 16 states have been unable to agree on a ban, and a ban on private fireworks displays on the German North Sea island of Föhr was recently overturned by the courts.