Five fireworks deaths in Europe

Five people were killed in separate fireworks accidents in Germany and Denmark during celebrations to mark the New Year, authorities said on Thursday.

German police said a 19-year-old man died early on Thursday in Striegistal in the eastern state of Saxony when trying to light illegal firecrackers. They said another man was severely injured in the accident.

Another man, 18, died of severe head injuries in the town of Alveslohe in the northern state of Schleswig-Holstein after being hit by a firecracker.

Among the many injured during the night into Thursday was a 23-year-old many in the state of Saxony-Anhalt, who lost four fingers when a firecracker blew up in his hands. A nine-year-old boy in Hesse was also wounded in the neck when a man tried to fire a rocket with a gun.

Busy fire brigades

In another accident during the night, 39 people in the southwestern city of Stuttgart suffered smoke-related injuries when the underground garage of their building caught fire, forcing the evacuation of all 92 residents. Police said it was unclear whether the fire had been caused by fireworks.

In the capital, Berlin, some 100 youths attacked police with fireworks in the district of Schöneberg, injuring some 14 officers, while numerous fires caused by fireworks across the country caused millions of euros worth of damage.

Across the border in Denmark, three people were killed and two others injured in two fireworks accidents in the north of the country, according to police.

Police said they believe the accidents occurred when people attempted to fire powerful, illegal fireworks through tube launchers.

tj/rc (dpa, AP)