Two 18 year olds died in Bielefeld on New Years Eve after sustaining severe facial injuries caused by fireworks according to police statements issued early in the morning. One victim was found dead at the scene in the Baumheide district. Another teenager suffered critical wounds in the Bracke area and later died in a hospital despite efforts to save him.
Eyewitness accounts indicated that no third party appeared responsible for either incident. A separate explosion in Reddelich near Rostock left a 14 year old without his left hand according to local authorities. Berlin hospitals admitted 5 people with fireworks related injuries before 22:30 with 2 in serious condition. Leipzig police reported that a 16 year old lost a finger and part of another after attempting to ignite an improvised device.
Fireworks are legally permitted only on New Years Eve and New Years Day in Germany. Injuries linked to illegal or improvised explosives frequently occur and are sometimes fatal. On New Years Eve 2025 similar incidents resulted in the deaths of 5 people. An AOK insurance analysis found that hospital admissions for fireworks accidents during New Years Eve and New Years Day averaged 530 over the past decade which is 2.6 times higher than a typical workday and 4.4 times higher than an average weekend. Experts police environmental groups and animal welfare advocates renew calls each year for a ban on the sale of fireworks.
