Five dead in Germany from New Year's fireworks accidents

A general view of fireworks fired from the General de Gaulle bridge, on the Ebrie lagoon during the New Year celebration in Abidjan on January 1, 2025. [AFP]

Five people died across Germany and a police officer was seriously injured from accidents linked to the powerful fireworks Germans traditionally set off to celebrate the new year, police said in a preliminary count.

Germans celebrate the new year with a particularly intense usage of fireworks, which spurs a recurrent debate about outlawing the most powerful devices, given the high number of injuries each year, as well as the pollution and noise they cause.