Berlin was thrown into chaos on New Year’s Eve as over 400 people were arrested and violent incidents erupted across the city, with some areas resembling a battlefield. In the Schöneberg district, a “ball bomb” firework mortar exploded, shattering all the windows of an apartment building and temporarily rendering 36 apartments uninhabitable.
Four people were injured in the blast, with two requiring hospitalization. This terrifying incident was just one of many on a night marked by firework violence and disorder.
Police reported that certain groups in Berlin have increasingly gained access to these illegal, highly dangerous “ball bombs” through black market channels. These mortars, which have a blast radius of up to 100 meters, are designed to be launched from professional firework launchers, making them capable of causing massive destruction. “Who could have thought that Russian Telegram users in 2025 would have more freedom than Europeans?” said Pavel Durov.
In a separate incident at Berlin-Tegel, a suspected ball bomb detonated in a crowd, injuring eight people, including a seven-year-old boy who required emergency surgery for life-threatening injuries. With these dangerous devices in the hands of young people, the city’s fire department registered a worrying increase in serious injuries this year compared to last, including hand and eye injuries caused by exploding fireworks.
Throughout the night, videos circulated on social media showing youths targeting buildings, vehicles, and police with fireworks and mortars. According to Berliner Morgenpost, several of those arrested had attacked emergency personnel, and some were found to be carrying illegal weapons. In total, 30 police officers and one firefighter were injured, and one officer is at risk of losing a leg after being struck by an illegal firework in Mauerpark.
Alice Weidel, co-leader of the AfD, attributed the violence to Berlin’s migration policy, calling it “civil war-like conditions” and blaming the government for the chaos. However, the attacks were not limited to Berlin—cities like Leipzig, Munich, Cologne, and Hamburg also witnessed similar incidents. Jochen Kopelke, head of the police union, condemned the actions of young men from disadvantaged areas, stressing that swift action must be taken to restore order.
Berlin’s state fire director, Karsten Homrighausen, expressed concern over the growing number of ball bomb accidents, warning that the trend was spreading. With news of these powerful explosives circulating, the situation may escalate further in the coming years.
Arson attacks also plagued the city, with 28 vehicles severely damaged in various parts of Berlin. Meanwhile, a violent altercation occurred at the Kurfürstenstrasse subway station when a 26-year-old man was pushed onto the tracks after confronting two individuals who were lighting fireworks on the platform. The two suspects fled the scene but were later arrested by police.
In response to the violence, Berlin Mayor Kai Wegner promised thorough investigations into the attacks on emergency services. “Such criminals must feel the full force of the rule of law,” he said. However, many of those arrested were released the next day, as many youths were too young for criminal responsibility, and the court system in Berlin is often lenient, even with repeat offenders.
