logo
Revellers injured after German fireworks show goes wrong

Revellers injured after German fireworks show goes wrong

Independent19-07-2025
At least 19 people, including a child, were injured, four seriously, after a fireworks display went awry at a fair in Düsseldorf, Germany, on Friday evening.
Emergency services and fire crews were deployed to the Rheinkirmes event along the Rhine river, where images showed fireworks exploding dangerously close to the ground.
The DPA news agency reported that a child was among the injured.
Düsseldorf fire services confirmed police are investigating why the fireworks display went wrong.
"Our thoughts are with those affected and their families. We wish all those affected a speedy recovery from the consequences of the accident. We deeply regret the accident," said Peter Dietlmaier, a spokesman.
He added organisers ended the fair early for the day, and were deciding whether to continue the traditional fireworks at next year's event.
Eyewitnesses told German public broadcaster WDR that some rockets flew sideways or detonated low, with a few even landing in the Rhine River. Video shared on social media shows explosions lighting up both the sky and ground at the same time.
"I was at the fair watching the fireworks," said one witness. "Some rockets flew surprisingly low and exploded close to people. I wondered if that wasn't too near the crowd."
The 10-day Rheinkirmes fair features amusement rides, drone and fireworks shows, and other entertainment, staffed by hundreds along the Rhine's left bank, opposite the city's historic district.
The fair is organised by the St. Sebastianus Rifle Club, which traces its history to the year 1316.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

How an LGBTQ+ cafe's neon sign became a beacon for hate in Berlin
How an LGBTQ+ cafe's neon sign became a beacon for hate in Berlin

The Independent

timean hour ago

  • The Independent

How an LGBTQ+ cafe's neon sign became a beacon for hate in Berlin

A neon sign inside the Das Hoven cafe in a trendy Berlin neighborhood proudly proclaims 'QUEER AND FRIENDS.' The sign was intended to show the cafe is a safe space for LGBTQ+ people. But it has also become a beacon for hate and homophobic attacks. Owner Danjel Zarte said there are 45 pending criminal investigations related to the cafe over the past year and a half, ranging from verbal and physical attacks on patrons and workers to windows being broken or covered in feces and swastika graffiti. One person even stood outside the cafe with a gun. 'An act of terror,' Zarte said. "I sometimes have panic attacks in the morning and am afraid to look at my cell phone because I'm afraid that something has happened again.' Attacks against queer people and gay-friendly establishments are rising across Germany, including in Berlin, a city that has historically embraced the queer community. Last year, there was a 40% increase in violence targeting LGBTQ+ people in 12 of Germany's 16 federal states as compared to 2023, according to the Association of Counseling Centers for Victims of Right-Wing, Racist and Antisemitic Violence. Activists say those figures only show a fraction of the probem's scope because victims are often afraid to come forward. They partly blame the rise of the far-right across Europe, including in Germany where the Alternative for Germany party made significant gains in the February election. Hostility toward LGBTQ+ people serves as a 'rallying cry' for believers in right-wing extremism, according to Judith Porath, the association's managing director. Experts have seen an increase in demonstrations and violence among neo-Nazis, most of whom are young men. Bastian Finke, the head of MANEO, an organization tracking anti-gay violence in the capital city, said those who are openly queer on Berlin's roads 'automatically run a very, very high risk simply because of who they are. To be attacked, to be insulted, to be spat on. We have these scenarios every day.' The fear was palpable at Saturday's Christopher Street Day parade in Berlin. The annual Pride event commemorates the 1969 Stonewall rebellion in New York City, when a spontaneous street uprising was triggered by a police raid on the Stonewall Inn gay bar on Christopher Street in Greenwich Village. 'The mood is actually tense: People are afraid, they are unsettled," Thomas Hoffmann, a member of the event's executive board, said Saturday. Hundreds of thousands of people showed up for the celebration, dancing to techno beats as they marched to the iconic Brandenburg Gate. "That is really a powerful, wonderful sign for more equality,' Hoffmann added. Hoffmann and others have long wanted German lawmakers to amend the constitution to explicitly include the legal protection of queer people from discrimination based on gender identity. But that looks unlikely to become a political priority. For Zarte, the stress of hate crimes and politics is nonstop, except during the Christopher Street Day parade, which always brings him to tears. "It is very moving to feel completely accepted once a year," he said. ___ Pietro De Cristofaro in Berlin contributed to this report.

Pedestrians rushed to hospital after being hit by falling rubble when van ploughed through wall and was left dangling from car park building
Pedestrians rushed to hospital after being hit by falling rubble when van ploughed through wall and was left dangling from car park building

Daily Mail​

time12 hours ago

  • Daily Mail​

Pedestrians rushed to hospital after being hit by falling rubble when van ploughed through wall and was left dangling from car park building

A van has ploughed through a car park wall with falling rubble hitting pedestrians on the ground leaving them in hospital. Five people were rushed to hospital, including two people in the van which smashed through a car park wall in Leeds city centre. The van was left dangling from the second floor of the building as emergency services were called to the scene at around 4.10pm today. Three members of the public were struck by rubble and have been taken to the hospital for their injuries to be assessed. Kane Rawdon, 31, was parked inside the car park, which has been shut off as the fire service assesses the damage to the building. He told the Yorkshire Evening Post: 'I was at work and got a text from a mate who knows I park here. I don't know if I'm going to be allowed through to get my car. 'I've not seen this many police before in town, but I'd heard something was happening. I hope that everyone is safe.' Another witness, who was walking through the city at the time, said: 'I've not got a clue what happened, but I've never seen anything like this before - or so many ambulances.' A West Yorkshire Police spokesperson said: 'Police were called to the NCP car park on Harper Street, Leeds at 4.09pm today to a report a van had collided with an interior wall while driving on the first floor. 'The collision caused damage to the building wall itself and led to the vehicle protruding outwards. 'Occupants of the vehicle were taken to hospital for precautionary checks. 'Three members of the public were also taken to hospital for assessment after being struck by rubble. None of the injuries are thought to be life threatening. 'A police scene has been established and damage to the building is being assessed by colleagues from the fire service and structural engineers 'The vehicle involved will be recovered.' A spokesperson for the Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust said: 'Ambulance resources responded to an incident at The Markets car park in central Leeds on Wednesday afternoon and five patients were conveyed to Leeds General Infirmary.'

Woman dies and nine-year-old girl seriously injured after limousine and car collide
Woman dies and nine-year-old girl seriously injured after limousine and car collide

The Independent

time14 hours ago

  • The Independent

Woman dies and nine-year-old girl seriously injured after limousine and car collide

A woman has died and a nine-year-old girl is in hospital with serious injuries after a crash involving a limousine and a car. Two men have been arrested in connection with the incident, with six other passengers across both vehicles also injured. The black Mercedes 220E limousine and black Citroen DS3 collided at a crossroad junction between Wellingborough Road and Broughton Road in Pytchley, near Kettering, at about 10.15pm on Tuesday, Northamptonshire Police said. The woman, in her 40s, who was a passenger in the Mercedes, died at the scene. The girl, also a passenger in the vehicle, was taken to Birmingham Children's Hospital, the force said. Another adult and three children who were travelling in the limousine and an adult and child passenger in the Citroen were taken to hospital with minor injuries. A 53-year-old man from Sandy, Bedfordshire, and a 22-year-old man from Wellingborough, Northamptonshire, have been arrested and remain in police custody, the force said. Anyone with information or dashcam footage that may have captured the incident should email CollisionAppeals@ or call the force on 101 or the Drivewatch Hotline on 0800 174615, quoting incident number 25000445341.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store