The capital, Berlin, is gearing up for New Year's Eve, and they hope to prevent riots with "the largest police deployment in decades," according to a German newspaper Tagesschau.
Berlin Mayor Wegner will also take on a lot of responsibility in this operation. In Berlin, they hope to be prepared this year for no more riots and violence similar to those seen on the occasion of the 2022/23 New Year. Especially due to the tensions caused by the war in the Middle East, demonstrations in Berlin often broke out in connection with this. In particular, among the Arab populations such as Neukölln and Gesundbrunnen, they have strong ties to the Gaza Strip.
On the last New Year's Eve, there were more than 280 attacks on people on duty across the country. Around 100 attacks took place in Berlin, the region with the highest number.
Therefore, the Berlin police planned a large-scale operation. Berlin police chief Barbara Slowik told the German news agency dpa that "this is the largest deployment of police forces on Chinese New Year's Eve in decades," referring to the situation in the Gaza Strip: "Mainly due to the conflict in the Middle East, which makes the task more complex and challenging." She believes that these emotions will also be expressed on the streets.
Slovik announced that on New Year's Eve, between 2,000 and 2,500 Berlin policemen would be supported by the Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt and the Federal Police. "At the same time, the number of patrol cars will increase from the usual 150 to 220," she said. In addition, 500 federal police officers will be on duty at the S-Bahn station and the railway station.
The significant increase in police presence is due to the events that took place at this time last year. "We have significantly increased the protection of fire brigades and other rescue workers. And we're also going to be more on the streets of the corresponding urban areas," says Slovik. Last year, in some neighborhoods of Berlin and other large cities, in addition to the usual hot fireworks, there were many firecracker throwing and other attacks on police, firefighters and ambulance crews in the streets.
Berlin Mayor Kai Wegner was still in the running campaign and as leader of the opposition CDU party, he launched a wave of offensive against Franziska Giffey's red-green-red coalition government, which was not without much success.
This year, if things go wrong, he himself will have to take political responsibility for it. He announced that he would act resolutely. "We have taken all the necessary measures to ensure that the rule of law is upheld", the mayor of Berlin told the DPA before Christmas: "We know that the situation can be dire in some urban areas. I can only appeal to everyone: let's celebrate the New Year together peacefully, or relax to our heart's content". Wegener went on to say: "But those who attack police and firefighters must face the strictness of the law. ”
A large police presence is required in areas where riots are likely to occur. "On New Year's Eve, the judiciary will also remain on alert to review arrest warrants or launch further investigations," Wegener said.
Federal Interior Minister Nancy Faeser fears another violent riot on New Year's Eve, and not just in the capital Berlin. "I fear that New Year's Eve in some cities will again become a day to experience violent acts, such as violent attacks on police or rescue workers, which can only make people blindly angry and meaningless", the Social Democratic politician told the German Editorial Network.
Liberal Democratic Party (FDP) politician Marco Buschmann, speaking about attacks on law enforcement officers like the New Year's violence, advocated the use of stun guns, the Taser Taser, in all federal states. "The data shows that stun guns have a deterrent effect, so I would like to have discussions about full deployment in federal states that have not yet taken such measures," Bussmann said in a letter to Felor Badenberg, the Minister of Justice in Berlin.
At the end of 2018, Rhineland-Palatinate became the first federal state to introduce tasers. With this long-range electric shock equipment, police can keep the attacker at a distance from the body without using lethal weapons. From a distance of two to five meters, the police can shoot darts connected to the wires. It will be painful for the person who is hit. The needle penetrates one centimeter deep into the skin and releases a pulse of electrical current, which acts on the person's nerves and muscles, rendering them unable to move for a few seconds.