According to an initial assessment, police officers temporarily arrested 132 people in the capital Berlin alone, a spokeswoman said. 23 proceedings were initiated. In Marl, North Rhine-Westphalia, masked police and fire brigade forces as well as the mayor attacked with stones, firecrackers and burning shopping carts, the police said.
No one was injured in the incidents. Four people were arrested and another nine were taken into custody, said a spokeswoman for the Recklinghausen police. The main suspect is a 16-year-old from Marl. Other suspects are teenagers and young adults between the ages of 14 and 25.
Disturbances, firecrackers thrown, riots
Other police authorities in North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) also reported that in many cases there were disturbances of the peace, firecrackers thrown, riots and even targeted attacks, especially by young people.
In Berlin, police officers and firefighters were reportedly occasionally attacked with pyrotechnics by groups – mostly children and young people. Fireworks and firecrackers were set off throughout the city. Some garbage containers were also set on fire. Two emergency services were injured.
Germany’s Interior Minister Nancy Faeser (SPD) said during a visit to the Federal Police at Frankfurt Airport that she was very outraged about this and condemned it in the strongest possible terms. Halloween is now an important event for children that should remain peaceful.
Door opened with gun in hand
In Hamburg, a man is said to have opened his door with a rifle in his hand when children rang the bell. Alerted police officers confiscated an older model weapon from the 65-year-old, which, according to initial findings, is not suitable for firing, a police spokesman said. An investigation was launched against the suspect.
In Emmerich on the Lower Rhine, a meeting of the illegal tuning scene with several hundred vehicles triggered a major police operation. At the peak, up to 500 vehicles were on the road in several places in the city, and reinforcements were requested from emergency services from surrounding cities and from the federal police, said the Kleve district police. The operation lasted several hours into the night.
Last year there were problems in several cities on Halloween night, so the police had made special preparations. Before the scary night, NRW Interior Minister Herbert Reul (CDU) emphasized on Platform X: “Go out, dress up, but remember: even practical jokes have limits.”
ePaper
**Interview with Police Spokesperson on Halloween Disturbances in Germany**
**Interviewer**: Thank you for joining us today. Can you summarize what occurred during Halloween night in Germany this year?
**Police Spokesperson**: Certainly. Halloween night on October 31, 2024, saw significant disturbances in several cities across Germany, particularly in Berlin and North Rhine-Westphalia. We had to temporarily arrest 132 people in Berlin alone, and there were numerous reports of riots and violence involving young people, including assaults with firecrackers and stones.
**Interviewer**: It sounds alarming. What specific incidents can you tell us about?
**Police Spokesperson**: In Marl, we faced a particularly violent situation where police and emergency services were targeted. Unfortunately, some members of our emergency services sustained injuries during the night. A key incident involved a 16-year-old who was identified as the main suspect in the attacks. We also had reports of fireworks being set off across Berlin, leading to some property damage, including garbage containers being set on fire.
**Interviewer**: Were there any serious injuries reported in these incidents?
**Police Spokesperson**: Thankfully, most incidents did not result in severe injuries. However, two emergency personnel did sustain minor injuries. The response from our police officers was swift, and we arrested several individuals involved in the violence.
**Interviewer**: How did the authorities prepare for potential disturbances this year?
**Police Spokesperson**: Given last year’s issues on Halloween, we increased our presence and preparation across the board. We had special operations planned to ensure public safety, as emphasized by NRW Interior Minister Herbert Reul. We want to encourage families and children to enjoy Halloween peacefully and responsibly.
**Interviewer**: Can you tell us about any unusual incidents that stood out?
**Police Spokesperson**: Yes, one particularly odd situation was reported in Hamburg where a man answered his door to trick-or-treaters while holding a rifle. Fortunately, it turned out to be an older model non-operational weapon, and we’ve launched an investigation into that individual.
**Interviewer**: What message do you have for the public regarding Halloween in the future?
**Police Spokesperson**: Our message is clear: Halloween should be a fun and safe occasion for everyone, especially children. We ask the community to celebrate responsibly and not engage in any form of violence or vandalism. Our police forces will be prepared to take action against any unlawful behavior.
**Interviewer**: Thank you for sharing these details with us, and stay safe out there.
**Police Spokesperson**: Thank you for having me. We appreciate the community’s support in keeping our streets safe.
