Emergency services were attacked with fireworks on New Year's Eve
After firefighters, police and rescue workers were attacked with fireworks by a group during an operation on New Year's Eve in Kranichstein, Mayor Hanno Benz and Head of Public Order Paul Georg Wandrey strongly condemned the attack and demanded a robust response from the rule of law.
They assured the affected emergency responders of their support. With an eye toward next New Year's Eve, the city is considering further measures. "That emergency responders are targeted with fireworks during an operation can only be described as stupid and antisocial," explained Mayor Hanno Benz.
"Such a reckless approach, especially against people who are on duty for our safety and health, even and particularly on holidays, is unforgivable and completely incomprehensible to me. It is now essential to thoroughly investigate how this could have happened, and once the perpetrators are identified, they must face the full force of the law."
Head of Public Order Paul Georg Wandrey also sharply criticizes the attacks, but points to the general increase in such offenses: "As a society, we cannot tolerate such disrespectful and dangerous attacks on emergency personnel. They endanger the safety of us all and must be punished immediately. Unfortunately, we have been observing a decline in respect and a general coarsening of behavior towards rescue, public order, and security forces for some time now, as the attack on the city police last October demonstrated. We must all work together to counteract this."
During a reported apartment fire in Kranichstein on New Year's Eve, emergency responders were pelted with fireworks upon arrival at the scene. Fortunately, no one was injured. However, the operation was delayed as a result, the fire department reported afterward.
PS / dk
