Dusseldorf (dpa / lnw) - In some large cities in North Rhine-Westphalia, no firecracker zones are set up for New Year's Eve for security reasons. In Cologne, Düsseldorf, Bielefeld and Dortmund, for example, fireworks may only be set off outside the restricted zones at the turn of the year. As a result, there should be fewer injuries and fewer people would be endangered by improper use of fireworks, according to the city of Düsseldorf.
The cities expect large crowds and many visitors in the city center on New Year's Eve. The regulatory office in Düsseldorf should be on duty with more staff at the turn of the year. A crowd like before the pandemic is also expected in Cologne. The police announced in advance that they would be on duty with several hundred forces on New Year's Eve alone in the cathedral city. Additional staff on the guards and on standby are ready and can also support the regulatory office in enforcing compliance with the rules.
Specifically, there is a ban on carrying and burning fireworks in Düsseldorf at the turn of the year in the entire old town, as a spokeswoman for the state capital said. The restriction will apply from 8:00 p.m. on December 31st until 6:00 a.m. on New Year's Day. "Typical New Year's Eve fireworks for adults" are forbidden, so-called youth fireworks such as sparklers or ground fireworks are allowed.
The fireworks-free zone in Cologne will be set up around the cathedral from 6 p.m. on New Year's Eve to 5 a.m. on January 1st. Between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m., the fireworks-free area will be extended to other parts of the city center.
Certain areas are also to be closed in Bielefeld: the city and the police declared the narrower area of the Sparrenburg and the boulevard to be a "cannon-free zone" for New Year's Eve. In Dortmund, no firecracker zones are planned in the area of Alter Markt and Reinoldi Church and at the main station. And the city of Aachen has again issued a general decree for New Year's Eve, with which the fireworks in the city center are massively restricted.
For example, in Essen, Münster, Bochum, Duisburg, Wuppertal and Bonn, reference has been made to generally applicable rules for the use of fireworks and the cities are not planning any ban zones - but they also rely on voluntary waiver and common sense, it said.
Health Minister Karl-Josef Laumann (CDU) meanwhile reiterated the call for careful handling of fireworks. "Everyone can make their personal contribution here so that the already stressed health care system is not unnecessarily burdened," he said according to the announcement. It is particularly important to ensure that only tested fireworks are used.
