In Hagen ( North Rhine-Westphalia), as in many other cities, there will be a ban on the burning of fireworks on public streets and squares on New Year’s Eve. However, it is already apparent that this ban will not be as easy to enforce as it has been imposed by politicians. At least not in Hagen and especially in the Altenhagen district. In the past few days, mainly young migrants and serial offenders have attacked policemen and rescue workers with fireworks.
But this is only the beginning, suspects police director Hubert Luhmann of the Hagen police. He assumes that members of the said group of people are by no means willing to accept the rules as binding. The contrary is to be expected. According to Luhmann, massive attacks are currently being planned against security, law enforcement and rescue forces. “There was even talk of a ‘war against the police’,” Luhmann says in a report in the newspaper Westfalenpost. “Their aim is to injure as many police officers as possible on New Year’s Eve. We have reliable statements in writing.”The police in Hagen will deploy more officers for the coming nights, a judge will be on duty on New Year’s Eve, and the public prosecutor’s office is also on standby. According to Luhmann, the aim is to take intensive offenders into custody in advance and keep them in custody on New Year’s Eve. However, it remains to be seen whether this will have any effect and whether it will be possible to stop the massive attacks on the police by mostly juvenile and young adult migrants that have happened in the past.