Spahn blames failed integration for New Year’s riots
Violence against the fire brigade, rescue workers and the police: does only a ban on firecrackers help?
Riots instead of peaceful New Year’s Eve celebrations: in Berlin Neukölln, emergency vehicles of the fire department were shot at with pyrotechnics, a fire extinguisher was thrown at an ambulance, and a fire engine was ambushed. Police unions are now demanding a ban on firecrackers.
Jens Spahn (CDU) also sees a weakness in politics in the attacks on rescue workers on New Year’s Eve. The fireworks would have more to do with unregulated migration, failed integration and a lack of respect for the state than with fireworks, according to the deputy chairman of the Union faction.
Dhe deputy Union faction leader Jens Spahn (CDU) has criticized the violent attacks on emergency services on New Year’s Eve – and made a failed integration policy partly responsible for the escalation. Politicians in Germany must seriously ask themselves why the New Year’s Eve celebrations keep escalating in the same places with the same participants, Spahn told the t-online portal on Monday. “It’s more about unregulated migration, failed integration and a lack of respect for the state instead of fireworks,” said Spahn.
“The attacks on emergency services are unspeakable,” said the parliamentary group leader. In his opinion, they are also proof of the weakness of the state.
The government did not provide any information on Monday as to which groups were responsible for the attacks. Federal Interior Minister Nancy Faeser (SPD) spoke only of chaos and violent criminals.
A spokeswoman for her ministry added on request that there was “still no overview of suspects”. She referred to the situation report for 2021, which recorded around 88,600 attacks on police officers. Of the known perpetrators, 84 percent are male and 70 percent are German citizens.
41 injured emergency services in Berlin
In Berlin and Hamburg in particular, emergency services from the fire brigade and police were attacked on New Year’s Eve. According to the police, 41 Berlin emergency services were injured. A police spokesman was unable to provide any information on the severity of the injuries on Monday evening. There were 159 arrests in connection with the incidents, the spokesman said. It was mostly young men or teenagers, it said.
It is not only determined because of attacks on law enforcement officers, but also because of arson, violations of the explosives law or breach of the peace.