People throwing rockets and fireworks at police cars and rescue vehicles drew widespread condemnation from German authorities.

German police union calls for action

Germany’s largest police union called for concerted action. On Tuesday to prevent a repeat of the violent excesses seen during New Year’s celebrations in Berlin and other cities. Where officers, firefighters and medical staff were attacked with fireworks.

Police in the capital recorded dozens of attacks and said 41 officers were injured. Online videos showing people throwing rockets. And fireworks at police cars. And rescue vehicles drew widespread condemnation from German authorities.

The head of the GDP union, Jochen Kopelke, said there should be an “immediate debate.” About the causes and consequences of such attacks.

Kopelke said it is important to discuss the facts of what happened. And avoid blanket accusations against certain social groups.

Some conservative and far-right politicians noted. That some of the attacks occurred in areas with large immigrant communities in Berlin.

Christophe de Vries, a lawmaker from the center-right Christian Democrats. Wrote on Twitter that addressing the issue of violence against police officers and firefighters “needs to talk about. The role of people (with) phenotype: West Asiatic, dark skin type.”

His comments drew accusations of racism. But de Vries said he was “” referring to Berlin police’s recent guidelines on how to describe. The ethnicity of suspects and that it “should not distract from. The necessary discussion about immigration policy and the clear lack of mix.”

People received widespread condemnation from the German authorities

Berlin police said so far that 98 of the 103 suspects released from custody are men.

The German government’s top unification official, Reim Alabali-Radovan, condemned the New Year’s attack. And called for those responsible to be punished “with the full force of our law”.

In an interview with Funke Media Group. He called for criminals to be judged “according to their deeds, not according to their assumptions. As some are doing now,” warning that it could create more divisions in society rather than address them. Social causes of the problem.

The attack also sparked controversy in Germany over the use of fireworks around the New Year. The tradition suffered a blow during the pandemic. When the government banned their sale in an attempt to ease pressure on hospitals and discourage large crowds.

Experts say the absence of such a ban may have contributed to the violence. And large number of fireworks injuries — including at least one death — seen this year.

Stefan Weh, regional head of the GDP union in Berlin, suggested. It was time to consider a nationwide ban on pyrotechnics, saying the attacks in the capital showed.