German police have detained a 23-year-old influencer who launched a firework toward an apartment in Berlin on New Year’s Eve.
The suspect, whose name has not been disclosed, was arrested at Berlin-Brandenburg Airport on charges of attempted arson, causing grievous bodily harm, and property damage. The individual, with over 310,000 followers on Instagram, had posted a now-deleted video showing the firework being launched toward an apartment in Berlin’s Neukölln district.
Fortunately, no one was injured in the incident, and the residents of the apartment were able to quickly extinguish the fire caused by the firework. Before his arrest, the blogger criticized the investigation, claiming in one of his social media videos that it stemmed from racism in Germany and expressing plans to return to his home country. Later, he admitted the incident was a “mistake” and issued an apology to the apartment’s owner.
The Berlin police stated that the 23-year-old influencer will appear before a judge on January 5, who will determine the pretrial measures.
The blogger’s video has sparked outrage amidst a broader discussion in Germany about injuries and damage caused by New Year’s fireworks. This year’s celebrations resulted in at least five deaths and numerous injuries.
