New Year latest: 300 arrests in Berlin as thousands welcome 2024
Berlin police claim that people threw fireworks at officers and attempted to make molotov cocktails
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Berlin police detained over 300 people on New Year’s Eve after at least 14 on-duty officers were injured as people shot fireworks at each other and police throughout the city.
One of the incidents occurred near Alexanderplatz where around 500 people were letting off fireworks at each other before police dispersed the group at the landmark Neptune Fountain, reported DW.
The crowd fired at police with pyrotechnics when they tried to check them for fireworks, according to the outlet.
In Neukölln, a number of arrests were made after people attempted to make Molotov cocktails, which police say they confiscated.
It came amid jubilant scenes in the US as tens of thousands of beaming people in New York’s Times Square, were showered with confetti and hugs and kisses after watching the descent of the colourful ball marking the birth of 2024.
The UK earlier welcomed 2024 with a bang as tens of thousands packed the streets of London and Edinburgh to watch the cities’ world-famous New Year’s Eve fireworks displays.
Tickets for the event in London sold out and official viewing areas were full. Organisers finished checks on the pyrotechnics with more than 10,000 fireworks shooting up into the night’s sky after the Big Ben countdown.
The march of midnight from time zone to time zone brought the new year first to places like Australia, where more than 1 million people watched a pyrotechnic display centred around Sydney’s famous Opera House and harbour bridge — a number of spectators equivalent to one in five of the city’s residents.
New year timings across the world
While Japan, Australia, New Zealand and South Korea have welcomed in the New Year, there are still plenty of countries with several hours left of 2023.
Among those next to be celebrating is China, who will mark midnight at 4pm GMT, followed by Indonesia an hour later. While the eastern parts of Russia have moved into 2024, Moscow will not ring in the New Year until 9pm GMT.
After the UK and several European countries, several countries in south America, including Brazil, will celebrate at 3am GMT, followed by the US East Coast at 5am GMT.
Last to welcome 2024 will be Baker Island in the central Pacific Ocean at 12pm GMT.
Japan and South Korea are next to welcome 2024
In the last few minutes, several other countries have begun to celebrate the start of 2024 with fireworks and parades.
Ringing in the New Year at 3pm GMT was Japan, South Korea, North Korea,Timor-Leste and Palau.
In Seoul, a bell tolling and countdown ceremony has taken place in Bosingak Pavilion while crowds have gathered at a temple in central Tokyo to watch a traditional bell-ringing ceremony.
Pictures: Celebrations take place across the globe
50,000 revellers expected in Edinburgh as Hogmanay street party sells out
Tens of thousands of Hogmanay revellers are expected in Edinburgh to see in the New Year – with organisers of the Scottish capital’s famous street party confirming the event has now sold out.
Unique Assembly said all tickets had been sold for both that event and the Concert in the Gardens, which will be headlined by Britpop stars Pulp.
The band’s set will be punctuated by fireworks from Edinburgh Castle at midnight, marking the start of 2024.
Al Thomson co-director of Unique Assembly – which organises Edinburgh’s four-day Hogmanay celebrations on behalf of the city council – said: “We’re in for one hell of a party now!
“Fifty thousand people in the streets of Edinburgh enjoying good music, good company and one of the best fireworks displays in the world – there’s no better way to start the New Year.”
French family hoping for tickets on the Eurostar to spend New Year’s Eve with family
A French family are among those queuing at St Pancras International in the hope of getting tickets for a train home to Paris for New Year’s Eve so they can “party with friends”.
Emilio Fernandez, 22, is with his parents Catherine and Manuel Fernandez, 58 and 59, his sister Luna, 31, and four-year-old nephew Amani.
He said: “We were supposed to leave late (on Saturday) but it was cancelled in the afternoon. We were very worried because first it’s important to come back to our country to celebrate New Year’s Eve there, so we are very worried still because we are not sure that we will be able to leave.”
His mother said: “It’s very expensive to stay in London, even for a few days.”
Watch: Sydney welcomes in 2024 with New Year's fireworks display over Harbour
In pictures: Celebrations from around the world
UK weather conditions for New Year celebrations
With tens of thousands taking taking to the streets this evening, forecasters have warned that 2023 will finish on an unsettled note with low pressure bringing showery conditions for New Year/Hogmanay revellers.
Although the showers will be widespread, eastern areas of both England and Scotland will have the best prospect of avoiding the downpours. It will stay quite windy across Wales and southern England, with a yellow weather warning previously issued for severe gales.
Pictures of New Year celebrations from around the world
Happy New Year Sydney!
It’s now 2024 in eastern parts of Australia, with Sydney, Canberra and Melbourne becoming the latest cities to welcome the new year.
Crowds had begun to gather from 3am onwards with the hopes of napping a good spot to watch the iconic firework display, with all vantage points reportedly full by 7pm.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments