New Year's babies in Berlin: Emil and Arsalan start the year 2026!

New Year's babies in Berlin: Emil and Arsalan start the year 2026!

On New Year's Eve 2026, Berlin experienced numerous events that included both moments of happiness and tragic incidents. New Year's baby Emil was born in the Auguste Viktoria Clinic at 12:17 a.m. In this first hour of the new year, several babies were born in Berlin. It is particularly worth mentioning that three infants were born at the Auguste-Viktoria-Klinikum, while the Klinikum am Urban and the Klinikum im Friedrichshain each reported two births.

Another New Year's baby, Arsalan, was born at the Evangelical Forest Hospital in Spandau at 5:47 a.m. Weighing 3,394 grams and measuring 50 centimeters, Arsalan was born after his mother was rushed to the delivery room with contractions just an hour before the birth. While the newborns brought joy, the night was also marked by serious incidents.

Security situation on New Year's Eve

In Berlin, the security forces had to overcome numerous challenges. During the night, 30 police officers were injured and over 420 arrests were recorded. The Interior Senator praised the operational concept, which helped control the security situation while hundreds of arrests were documented. In other German cities, such as Hamburg and Cologne, there were also unpleasant incidents in which emergency services were attacked with fireworks.

4,300 police officers were deployed across Germany to secure New Year's Eve. Despite the massive police presence, numerous crimes were linked to pyrotechnics. According to DW, authorities reported large gatherings of people at hotspots such as the Brandenburg Gate and the Port of Hamburg. Here the emergency services often had to work around the clock.

Tragic accidents and injuries

Despite the celebrations, the outcome of the night has been overshadowed by sadness. In Germany there were a total of five deaths due to accidents involving illegal firecrackers. Two 18-year-olds died in Bielefeld and a 23-year-old near Rostock lost his left hand when a firecracker exploded, highlighting the dangers of home-made pyrotechnics. Numerous injuries were also reported. In Leipzig, a young girl was seriously injured when she tried to light an unauthorized New Year's Eve firecracker. These incidents led to a wide debate about a possible ban on fireworks, which many consider necessary, while the Pyrotechnics Association rejects these calls as politically motivated.

The Berlin fire brigade reported a total of 1,892 operations during the night, which was 294 more than the previous year. These operations included numerous fires and emergencies. This highlights the great responsibility that emergency responders have during New Year's Eve as they combat the dangers caused by partying crowds and dangerous pyrotechnics.

Amidst the celebrations, the New Year was also celebrated in other countries around the world. In Sydney, a spectacular fireworks display took place under strict security precautions, while in Dubai people waited up to nine hours for the big spectacle at the Burj Khalifa. Such comparisons highlight the complexity and differences in New Year celebrations around the globe. The Tagesspiegel emphasizes that thoughtful moments and challenges should not be missing at the turn of the year. Although the birth of new lives brings hope, it is important to reflect on the responsibility when dealing with fireworks.