Polish journalists and academics living in Germany are blaming immigration for the violence that marred the country’s New Year’s Eve celebrations.
Agnieszka Wolska, a journalist in Cologne, stated that many participants, particularly those with migrant backgrounds, seemed to confuse the holiday with war, leading to chaos.
On the night, over 400 arrests were made in Berlin alone, where 30 police officers were injured, one of whom required emergency surgery to save his leg.
Dr. Sławomir Ozdyk, a political scientist based in Berlin, also pointed to Germany’s migration policy as a key factor in the escalating violence. “The more of these men, because we are talking about men, come to Europe, the more the situation changes,” he said. He noted that pyrotechnic-free zones had been established in multicultural neighborhoods, yet these areas saw chaos, with illegal fireworks being shot at police and buildings. In Berlin, several dozen apartments were left uninhabitable due to powerful fireworks causing massive damage.
Wolska echoed Ozdyk’s concerns, remarking that the behavior observed in Germany starkly contrasts with Polish norms, particularly in the context of migration policy. She highlighted that many migrants seemed to treat New Year’s Eve like a battlefield, not a celebration. Violence wasn’t confined to Berlin—attacks occurred in Leipzig, Cologne, Hamburg, and Munich, with over 700 police interventions.
The night also saw multiple fires set across various cities, from houses and cars to garbage bins, with fire brigades working tirelessly to contain the flames.
